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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: rush · calf · march · press · ruler · key · arm · lash

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. press — to push
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. key — the most important part
  9. march — the month
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. key — in music
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. march — music
  15. press — a publisher
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. press — newspapers
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. rush — hurry
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. march — the month
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. arm — part of the body

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