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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
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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: lash · pitcher · calf · staff · mug · object · rest · bay

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. staff — employees
  3. mug — to rob
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. object — to protest
  7. object — an aim
  8. rest — a break
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. rest — what's left
  14. mug — a face
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. staff — a stick
  17. mug — a cup
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. staff — employees
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. object — a thing
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bay — a horse colour

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