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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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. hand — in cards
  3. bore — to tire
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. firm — decided
  6. firm — steady
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. firm — a company
  12. staff — employees
  13. net — in sport
  14. staff — employees
  15. hand — help
  16. bore — to drill
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — to recline
  19. net — for catching
  20. staff — a stick
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. net — after costs

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