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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: bore · safe · patient · hand · bank · mouse · fan · leaves

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bank — of a river
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bank — for money
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. bore — to drill
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bank — for money
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. hand — in cards
  20. bore — to tire
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. hand — help
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. hand — part of the body

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