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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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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: scale · fine · tube · lash · deal · last · calf · firm

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. deal — to handle
  4. fine — all right
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. scale — in music
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. tube — the underground
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. scale — size or range
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. firm — steady
  15. last — to go on
  16. last — final
  17. firm — a company
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. fine — high quality
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. last — finally
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. firm — decided

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