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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.

Make a worksheet

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: racket · bat · cabinet · lie · pitcher · calf · toast · rash

  1. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — for baseball
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. toast — bread
  5. rash — a series
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. lie — to recline
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. rash — hasty
  18. bat — in an idiom
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. bat — the animal
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. pitcher — a jug

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