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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: foot · cabinet · patient · leaves · branch · pitch · ground · bulb

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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. foot — part of the body
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. foot — a measure
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. ground — the earth
  11. pitch — completely
  12. bulb — for light
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. ground — crushed
  16. branch — a division
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bulb — for light
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. ground — a position
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. patient — a sick person

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