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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: patient · stand · net · safe · temple · toast · squash · game

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. net — in sport
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. game — wild animals
  6. net — for catching
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. stand — to bear
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. net — after costs
  15. game — a match
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. squash — the sport
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. toast — bread
  22. squash — to crush
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. safe — out of danger

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