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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: pitcher · row · patient · safe · calf · wax · bear · toast

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. row — to paddle
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. bear — the animal
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. row — a line
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. toast — bread
  21. bear — the animal
  22. wax — to grow
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. calf — a young animal

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