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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. fall — to drop
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. fall — the season
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. tube — a container
  9. fall — to drop
  10. net — after costs
  11. plane — a tool
  12. net — for catching
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. staff — a stick
  16. tube — the underground
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. net — in sport
  20. stand — to bear
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. staff — employees
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. staff — employees

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