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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: fall · stand · patient · pass · safe · foot · pop · leaves

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. stand — to bear
  7. pop — to visit
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. pass — a permit
  15. fall — the season
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. pop — soda
  18. foot — a measure
  19. fall — to drop
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. pop — music
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. fall — to drop
  24. patient — a sick person

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