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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 120 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: lean · hand · calf · patient · hide · dip · fine · foot

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. lean — thin
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. lean — to bend
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. fine — high quality
  12. hand — in cards
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. dip — to sink
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. fine — all right
  21. foot — a measure
  22. hand — help
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. foot — part of the body

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