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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
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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: date · temple · lash · calf · charge · hand · key · trunk

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. charge — in control
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. date — the fruit
  7. charge — electricity
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. key — the most important part
  11. hand — in cards
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. hand — help
  17. charge — a price
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. key — for a lock
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. key — in music

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