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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: object · cap · cabinet · current · season · calf · safe · stand

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cap — a hat
  5. current — electric
  6. object — a thing
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. season — in sport
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. object — to protest
  12. current — of water
  13. object — an aim
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. cap — of ice
  16. season — of the year
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. current — happening now
  23. cap — a lid
  24. stand — on your feet

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