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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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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: can · calf · nail · patient · key · stand · pass · bulb

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. can — a tin
  4. pass — a permit
  5. stand — to bear
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. can — a tin
  11. key — in music
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. bulb — for light
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. can — to be able to
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. key — the most important part
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. bulb — for light
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. key — for a lock
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. calf — of the leg

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