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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 116 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 · can · tube · bowl · lash · mark · dip · rest

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. can — to be able to
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. can — a tin
  7. rest — what's left
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. rest — what's left
  13. mark — a trace
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. tube — a container
  16. can — a tin
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. rest — a break
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. mark — a grade
  21. dip — to sink
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. tube — in a tire

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