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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: season · calf · trunk · tube · lash · lean · lie · cue

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. season — of the year
  3. cue — a hint
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. tube — the underground
  7. cue — for pool
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. season — in sport
  10. lie — to recline
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. cue — a signal
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. tube — a container
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. lean — to bend
  24. lean — thin

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