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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.

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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: calf · mate · charge · dip · lie · march · bay · lash

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. lie — to recline
  4. mate — to breed
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. march — music
  9. charge — a price
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. charge — electricity
  13. dip — to sink
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mate — a friend
  16. march — the month
  17. mate — a partner
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. charge — in control
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. lash — to lash out

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