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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: arm · court · safe · lash · patient · degree · stand · rush

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. stand — to bear
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. court — of law
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. court — of a king
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. degree — from a university
  13. court — for sport
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. degree — temperature
  19. degree — an amount
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. arm — part of the body

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