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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: mark · bound · plane · foot · branch · patient · key · firm

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. firm — decided
  4. plane — a tool
  5. key — in music
  6. bound — tied together
  7. mark — a grade
  8. foot — a measure
  9. bound — certain
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. bound — obliged
  12. key — the most important part
  13. firm — steady
  14. mark — a trace
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. firm — a company
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. key — for a lock

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