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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bay · patient · leaves · safe · mine · plane · branch · firm

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. firm — decided
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. plane — a tool
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. branch — a division
  11. mine — for digging
  12. firm — steady
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. firm — a company
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bay — a horse colour

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