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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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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: foot · lean · safe · pass · stand · fork · rash · cold

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The water is too ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. cold — the Cold War
  3. lean — thin
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. stand — to bear
  8. pass — a permit
  9. fork — in a road
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. cold — an illness
  12. rash — hasty
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. lean — to bend
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. rash — a series
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. cold — not warm
  22. foot — a measure
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. lean — to rest against

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