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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: patient · mine · hide · branch · scale · fan · mouse · safe

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. scale — in music
  6. scale — size or range
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mine — for digging
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. branch — a division
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — for a computer

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