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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: current · mark · tube · branch · patient · present · rock · sharp

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. present — a gift
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. present — the time now
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. current — electric
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. current — of water
  14. sharp — clever
  15. mark — a trace
  16. current — happening now
  17. tube — a container
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. present — there
  20. mark — a grade
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. tube — the underground
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rock — music

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