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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: bore · bear · spring · hand · calf · mouse · rock · lash

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. spring — the season
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. spring — a coil
  5. rock — music
  6. hand — in cards
  7. hand — help
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bore — to tire
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. bear — the animal
  16. rock — a stone
  17. spring — of water
  18. bore — to drill
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bear — the animal

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