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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: pass · craft · wake · patient · mark · branch · board · safe

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. craft — boats
  4. mark — a trace
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. mark — a grade
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. pass — a permit
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. craft — a skill
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. branch — a division
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. board — to get on
  22. wake — a trail
  23. board — a committee
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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