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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: cue · march · safe · calf · pop · rock · foot · patient

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. rock — music
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. cue — for pool
  5. march — the month
  6. rock — a stone
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. march — music
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. foot — a measure
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pop — soda
  16. cue — a signal
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. cue — a hint
  20. march — the month
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. rock — to move gently

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