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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: lie · firm · rock · row · snap · nail · calf · bank

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bank — for money
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. snap — to click
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rock — music
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. firm — steady
  12. rock — a stone
  13. row — to paddle
  14. lie — to recline
  15. firm — decided
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. bank — of a river
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. row — a line
  21. firm — a company
  22. bank — for money
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. row — a quarrel

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