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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: wave · safe · patient · shower · scale · cabinet · board · branch

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. board — a committee
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. branch — a division
  17. board — to get on
  18. shower — to wash
  19. scale — in music
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. scale — size or range
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. safe — a strongbox

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