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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: safe · swing · can · board · clip · calf · lash · race

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  7. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. swing — music
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. clip — for paper
  7. race — humankind
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. race — a contest
  12. board — a committee
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. clip — a video
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. clip — to cut
  17. can — to be able to
  18. swing — to play on
  19. can — a tin
  20. race — the arms race
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. can — a tin
  23. board — to get on
  24. swing — in golf

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