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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: patient · press · hide · scale · coach · rash · fork · safe

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. scale — in music
  3. rash — a series
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. press — to push
  7. rash — hasty
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. press — newspapers
  11. press — a publisher
  12. fork — in a road
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. scale — size or range
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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