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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: ground · calf · cabinet · arm · bulb · lash · chest · staff

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bulb — for light
  3. ground — the earth
  4. bulb — for light
  5. chest — of your body
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. staff — a stick
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. staff — employees
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. ground — crushed
  16. ground — a position
  17. chest — of your body
  18. staff — employees
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. chest — a box

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