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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.

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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: mark · fan · roll · calf · temple · rest · lash · cue

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. cue — a signal
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. mark — a trace
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mark — a grade
  13. rest — what's left
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. cue — a hint
  16. roll — a cake
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. rest — a break
  21. roll — a list
  22. rest — what's left
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. lash — an eyelash

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