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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: calf · present · lash · content · spell · bass · rash · ruler

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. present — there
  5. rash — hasty
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. bass — the fish
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. spell — letters
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bass — low music
  16. present — the time now
  17. rash — a series
  18. present — a gift
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. content — happy
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. spell — magic
  23. content — the amount
  24. spell — a short time

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