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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 120 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: bulb · temple · branch · season · patient · safe · board · bound

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. bound — certain
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. board — a committee
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bound — tied together
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. branch — a division
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. bound — obliged
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bulb — for light
  22. season — in sport
  23. bulb — for light
  24. season — of the year

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