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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: scale · branch · march · safe · cabinet · patient · last · spell

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. march — the month
  4. march — music
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. last — finally
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. spell — magic
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. spell — letters
  16. scale — size or range
  17. last — to go on
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. march — the month
  22. scale — in music
  23. spell — a short time
  24. last — final

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com