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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: press · hand · lash · key · toast · net · calf · mouse

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. net — in sport
  5. key — the most important part
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. press — a publisher
  9. press — newspapers
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. key — in music
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. key — for a lock
  14. net — for catching
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. toast — bread
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. hand — help
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. hand — in cards
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. net — after costs
  24. press — to push

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