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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 120 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
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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 · mug · net · perch · firm · kid · stand · last

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. net — in sport
  3. firm — steady
  4. net — after costs
  5. net — for catching
  6. perch — the fish
  7. last — finally
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. firm — a company
  11. mug — a cup
  12. kid — child
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. stand — to bear
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. firm — decided
  17. mug — a face
  18. mug — to rob
  19. last — to go on
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. last — final
  22. kid — to tease
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. calf — of the leg

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