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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 120 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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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: cue · stick · branch · safe · ruler · patient · leaves · bay

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. branch — a division
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. cue — for pool
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. cue — a signal
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. cue — a hint
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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