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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 116 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: patient · bass · leaves · rest · bay · swing · cabinet · branch

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. bass — low music
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. rest — what's left
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. rest — a break
  11. rest — what's left
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. bass — the fish
  15. swing — music
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. branch — a division
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. swing — to play on
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. swing — in golf

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