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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.

Make a worksheet

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: leaves · mate · field · fall · staff · safe · calf · rash

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. fall — to drop
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. staff — a stick
  9. field — a subject
  10. mate — a partner
  11. rash — hasty
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. mate — a friend
  14. staff — employees
  15. rash — a series
  16. fall — the season
  17. field — farmland
  18. mate — to breed
  19. staff — employees
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. fall — to drop
  22. field — for sport
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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