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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. mug — to rob
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. band — a music group
  8. shower — rain
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. mug — a cup
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. suit — in cards
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. band — a ring
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. suit — clothes
  22. mug — a face
  23. suit — to fit
  24. shower — to wash

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