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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: net · can · rush · pitch · toast · rash · snap · calf

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. snap — to click
  3. can — a tin
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. pitch — completely
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. toast — bread
  10. rush — hurry
  11. net — after costs
  12. net — in sport
  13. net — for catching
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rash — a series
  16. can — a tin
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rash — hasty
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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