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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: bound · calf · toast · lash · root · nail · row · rash

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  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. calf — of the leg
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. root — of a plant
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. bound — tied together
  7. root — the cause
  8. row — a line
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. row — to paddle
  13. bound — certain
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. rash — a series
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. bound — obliged
  21. toast — bread
  22. root — of a word
  23. rash — hasty
  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