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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 116 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: calf · rule · lash · hand · squash · bay · sharp · root

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. root — of a plant
  3. root — the cause
  4. rule — a law
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. squash — the sport
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. sharp — clever
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. hand — help
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. squash — to crush
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. rule — government
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. hand — in cards
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. root — of a word
  24. rule — to rule out

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