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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: jam · season · bat · stand · arm · key · calf · field

  1. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — for baseball
  2. field — farmland
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. field — for sport
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. season — in sport
  9. key — for a lock
  10. season — of the year
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. field — a subject
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. stand — to bear
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. key — in music
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. key — the most important part
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. bat — the animal
  24. jam — a tight spot

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