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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: straw · calf · deal · perch · fine · lash · board · trunk

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. deal — to handle
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. perch — the fish
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. board — a committee
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. board — to get on
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. fine — high quality
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. fine — all right

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