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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: patient · bay · calf · deal · chair · season · foot · current

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. current — of water
  4. current — happening now
  5. season — in sport
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. chair — a leader
  9. deal — to handle
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. foot — a measure
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. season — of the year
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. current — electric
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. chair — a professorship

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