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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. press — newspapers
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. scale — in music
  8. board — to get on
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. snap — to click
  11. current — electric
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. press — to push
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. press — a publisher
  16. current — of water
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. board — a committee
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. scale — size or range
  21. current — happening now
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. calf — a young animal

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