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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 · stock · fall · track · season · wake · safe · rush

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. season — in sport
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. rush — hurry
  6. stock — shares
  7. season — of the year
  8. wake — a trail
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. fall — the season
  11. stock — goods
  12. track — a path
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. track — a song
  15. fall — to drop
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. track — to keep track
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. safe — out of danger

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