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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.

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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: cabinet · face · bass · rush · bay · mug · calf · hand

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. hand — help
  8. rush — hurry
  9. face — to confront
  10. mug — a face
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. bass — low music
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. mug — to rob
  18. face — part of the head
  19. mug — a cup
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. bass — the fish
  22. face — to point toward
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. hand — in cards

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