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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 · cabinet · jam · mine · safe · trunk · wound · firm

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. wound — an injury
  8. mine — for digging
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. firm — decided
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. wound — an injury
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. firm — a company
  22. firm — steady
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. jam — a tight spot

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