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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: calf · board · pitcher · bank · temple · lash

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. board — to get on
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bank — for money
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. board — a committee
  15. bank — of a river
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bank — for money

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