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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. net — after costs
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. net — for catching
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. stand — to bear
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. net — in sport
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. ruler — for measuring

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