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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.

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: rash · hide · vault · patient · pitcher · branch · charge · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. rash — hasty
  7. foot — a measure
  8. charge — electricity
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. branch — a division
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. rash — a series
  17. charge — a price
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. vault — a safe
  20. charge — in control
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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