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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 · calf · staff · root · board · kid · lie · spell

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. root — of a plant
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. board — to get on
  8. lie — to recline
  9. spell — a short time
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. kid — child
  12. root — the cause
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. staff — a stick
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. spell — magic
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. staff — employees
  20. staff — employees
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. root — of a word
  23. spell — letters
  24. kid — to tease

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