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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: squash · lean · lash · mug · bulb · date · deal · calf

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. mug — a face
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — for light
  5. lean — to bend
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. date — the fruit
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. squash — the sport
  10. squash — to crush
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. deal — to handle
  18. mug — to rob
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. mug — a cup
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. date — on the calendar

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