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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 · land · nail · lie · lash · cue · shower · track

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. lie — to recline
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. shower — rain
  5. track — a song
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. land — ground
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. cue — a signal
  13. track — a path
  14. shower — to wash
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. land — a country
  19. land — to come down
  20. cue — a hint
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. track — to keep track
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. lie — an untruth

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