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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.

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: toast · roll · cabinet · fine · rush · race · calf · patient

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. rush — hurry
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. fine — high quality
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. race — humankind
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. race — the arms race
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. race — a contest
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. toast — bread
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. roll — a list
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. fine — all right
  24. roll — a cake

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