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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. wound — an injury
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. net — in sport
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. wound — an injury
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. net — after costs
  11. season — in sport
  12. net — for catching
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. snap — to click
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. season — of the year
  21. lie — to recline
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. safe — out of danger

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