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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: foot · fine · root · swing · pitch · hand · calf · lash

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. foot — a measure
  3. root — the cause
  4. swing — in golf
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. fine — all right
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. swing — to play on
  13. pitch — completely
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. fine — high quality
  16. hand — help
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. root — of a plant
  19. hand — in cards
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. root — of a word
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. swing — 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