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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: press · kick · content · calf · rush · lash · mouse · ground

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. ground — a position
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. ground — crushed
  7. content — the amount
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. press — a publisher
  11. ground — the earth
  12. rush — hurry
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. press — to push
  17. content — happy
  18. kick — in football
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. kick — with a 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