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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 · safe · cabinet · drill · kick · firm · leaves · ground

  1. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  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. kick — a thrill
  2. firm — a company
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. ground — the earth
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. firm — steady
  9. drill — the tool
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. drill — army training
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. ground — a position
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. kick — in football
  16. drill — a practice
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. firm — decided
  21. ground — crushed
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. leaves — lets stay
  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