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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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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. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. kick — in football
  3. field — farmland
  4. net — after costs
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. net — in sport
  7. season — in sport
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. field — a subject
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. season — of the year
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. net — for catching
  19. field — for sport
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. safe — out of danger

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