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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: calf · row · cabinet · rock · patient · mark · hand · hide

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. hand — in cards
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mark — a grade
  8. rock — a stone
  9. hand — help
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. row — to paddle
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. rock — music
  24. mark — a trace

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