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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
468
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: plane · squash · swing · calf · mark · lean · patient · mug

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. swing — in golf
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. plane — a tool
  5. mark — a grade
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. mug — a face
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. lean — thin
  11. mug — to rob
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. squash — the sport
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. squash — to crush
  17. swing — to play on
  18. mark — a trace
  19. lean — to bend
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. swing — music
  24. calf — a young animal

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