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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: fine · calf · squash · stock · lash · rash · hide · game

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. rash — a series
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. game — a match
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. stock — goods
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. squash — to crush
  11. fine — high quality
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. rash — hasty
  17. game — wild animals
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. squash — the sport
  23. fine — all right
  24. hide — to keep secret

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