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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. staff — a stick
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. bear — the animal
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. staff — employees
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. cap — of ice
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. bear — the animal
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. cap — a lid
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. ground — a position
  16. cap — a hat
  17. staff — employees
  18. ground — crushed
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. ground — the earth
  24. bowl — a football final

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