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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: march · safe · ruler · sharp · rock · patient · deal · branch

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. deal — to handle
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. rock — music
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. march — the month
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. march — music
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. sharp — clever
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. march — the month
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. rock — a stone

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