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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: calf · pop · bat · pitcher · temple · shower · lash · mug

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. bat — in an idiom
  7. mug — a cup
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. bat — for baseball
  12. pop — to visit
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. shower — rain
  15. bat — the animal
  16. pop — music
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. mug — a face
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. shower — to wash
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mug — to rob
  24. pop — soda

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