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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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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: stick · stem · arm · stand · rash · foot · bound · calf

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. bound — tied together
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. stem — to come from
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. stand — to bear
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bound — certain
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rash — a series
  23. foot — a measure
  24. calf — a young animal

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