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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: lash · rock · mug · calf · pitch · bank · plane · stock

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. plane — a tool
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. mug — a face
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. bank — for money
  7. stock — shares
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. bank — for money
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. rock — a stone
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. stock — goods
  15. rock — music
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mug — to rob
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bank — of a river
  21. mug — a cup
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. pitch — completely

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