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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.

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: game · foot · stock · row · calf · patient · stand · safe

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. game — wild animals
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. game — a match
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. row — a line
  15. foot — a measure
  16. stand — to bear
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. stock — shares
  20. row — to paddle
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. stock — goods
  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