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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. stock — shares
  5. mate — to breed
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. net — after costs
  8. firm — decided
  9. pitch — completely
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. firm — a company
  13. stand — to bear
  14. net — for catching
  15. mate — a friend
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. firm — steady
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. stock — goods
  20. net — in sport
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. mate — a partner
  24. leaves — lets stay

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