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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: drill · lash · lean · calf · plane · bulb · toast · pound

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. bulb — for light
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. pound — a weight
  9. lean — to bend
  10. bulb — for light
  11. lean — thin
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. drill — a practice
  15. plane — a tool
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. drill — army training
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. toast — bread
  24. drill — the tool

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