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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.

Make a worksheet

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: lash · calf · hand · kick · firm · wound · lie · can

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. can — a tin
  3. kick — in football
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. firm — a company
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. firm — decided
  14. wound — an injury
  15. hand — help
  16. lie — to recline
  17. can — to be able to
  18. firm — steady
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. can — a tin
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. wound — an injury
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. kick — with a leg

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