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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: cabinet · swing · can · squash · safe · season · patient · branch

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. season — in sport
  5. squash — the sport
  6. can — to be able to
  7. branch — a division
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. swing — in golf
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. can — a tin
  13. swing — to play on
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. season — of the year
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. can — a tin
  18. swing — music
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. squash — to crush
  24. cabinet — ministers

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