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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: charge · wound · scale · ruler · patient · branch · season · safe

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. charge — a price
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. wound — an injury
  10. charge — electricity
  11. scale — size or range
  12. season — of the year
  13. wound — an injury
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. branch — a division
  17. charge — in control
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. season — in sport
  22. scale — in music
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. ruler — for measuring

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