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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.

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: stem · file · hand · stand · safe · cabinet · calf · patient

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. stand — to bear
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. stem — to come from
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. hand — help
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. hand — in cards
  14. file — a document
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. file — a line of people
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. file — a tool

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