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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: calf · stand · patient · object · toast · drill · foot · pass

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  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. calf — of the leg
  2. stand — to bear
  3. drill — a practice
  4. pass — a permit
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. foot — a measure
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. object — to protest
  10. object — an aim
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. toast — bread
  13. drill — army training
  14. object — a thing
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. drill — the tool
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  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