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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: sharp · content · staff · cabinet · safe · patient · foot · prune

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. sharp — clever
  7. content — the amount
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. staff — a stick
  10. staff — employees
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. prune — to trim
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. content — happy
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. foot — a measure
  23. staff — employees
  24. safe — out of danger

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