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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: cap · bound · bank · safe · saw · pitcher · patient · scale

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bound — certain
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. scale — size or range
  6. cap — a lid
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. bound — tied together
  11. saw — the tool
  12. cap — of ice
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. cap — a hat
  15. scale — in music
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bank — for money
  18. bank — of a river
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. bound — obliged
  24. bank — for money

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