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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 120 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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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: charge · rest · calf · lash · track · mark · lie · pit

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. charge — electricity
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. lie — to recline
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. rest — a break
  10. track — a song
  11. rest — what's left
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. pit — a hole
  14. pit — in a race
  15. mark — a grade
  16. track — to keep track
  17. charge — in control
  18. rest — what's left
  19. mark — a trace
  20. charge — a price
  21. track — a path
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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