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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: calf · lash · cabinet · season · bear · land · charge · face

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. face — part of the head
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — the animal
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. charge — in control
  8. season — in sport
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. charge — electricity
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. land — ground
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. land — a country
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. season — of the year
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. land — to come down
  20. charge — a price
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. face — to point toward
  24. face — to confront

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