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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: drill · lash · hide · calf · perch · lie · pitcher · rush

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. perch — the fish
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. drill — the tool
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. drill — a practice
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. rush — hurry
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. lie — to recline
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. drill — army training

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