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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · pitcher · safe · bark · date · pitch · stand · leaves

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. stand — to bear
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. pitch — completely
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. bark — to shout
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. date — the fruit

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