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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 124 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.

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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: patient · bank · arm · scale · staff · leaves · spell · bulb

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. scale — in music
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. bank — for money
  7. bank — of a river
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. bulb — for light
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. bulb — for light
  12. staff — a stick
  13. staff — employees
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. bank — for money
  16. scale — size or range
  17. spell — a short time
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. spell — magic
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. spell — letters
  24. arm — part of the body

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