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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: land · game · press · calf · lash · cabinet · suit · rush

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. suit — in cards
  4. land — to come down
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. game — wild animals
  7. press — to push
  8. press — a publisher
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. land — a country
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. suit — to fit
  17. rush — hurry
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. press — newspapers
  20. suit — clothes
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. game — a match
  24. land — ground

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