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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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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: tube · bass · safe · branch · patient · plane · rush · ball

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rush — hurry
  5. branch — a division
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. tube — the underground
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. tube — a container
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. bass — low music
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. plane — a tool
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. ball — a dance
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. bass — the fish
  23. ball — a great time
  24. branch — of a tree

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