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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: safe · bulb · pit · branch · arm · patient · staff · track

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. track — to keep track
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. track — a path
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. pit — in a race
  12. branch — a division
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — for light
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. pit — a hole
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. track — a song
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — employees
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. staff — a stick

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