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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bound · calf · lash · sharp · temple · deal · content · march

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. march — music
  3. march — the month
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. content — the amount
  11. march — the month
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. bound — tied together
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. deal — to handle
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. bound — certain
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. bound — obliged
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. content — happy

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