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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: mark · bulb · foot · stand · nail · toast · calf · stick

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. stand — to bear
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. foot — a measure
  10. mark — a grade
  11. bulb — for light
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. mark — a trace
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. bulb — for light
  24. foot — the bottom

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