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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. mug — a cup
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. board — a committee
  6. drill — a practice
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. mug — to rob
  9. rush — hurry
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. drill — the tool
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. drill — army training
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. stand — to bear
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. board — to get on
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mug — a face
  24. calf — of the leg

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