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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: patient · pit · field · fine · pitcher · safe · stand · lie

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. fine — high quality
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. lie — to recline
  7. pit — in a race
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. stand — to bear
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. fine — all right
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. field — farmland
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. field — for sport
  23. pit — a hole
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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