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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: calf · rock · lash · mug · cabinet · content · last · toast

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. last — final
  3. mug — a face
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. mug — to rob
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. last — finally
  11. toast — bread
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. mug — a cup
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. content — happy
  19. last — to go on
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. rock — music
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. content — the amount
  24. rock — a stone

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