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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 · face · dip · scale · bark · drill · net · lash

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. drill — army training
  3. dip — to sink
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. face — to confront
  6. scale — size or range
  7. scale — in music
  8. face — part of the head
  9. face — to point toward
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. net — in sport
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. drill — the tool
  15. net — after costs
  16. drill — a practice
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. net — for catching
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. bark — to shout
  24. lash — an eyelash

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