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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 · rash · cabinet · firm · suit · lash · current · scale

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. scale — size or range
  3. current — electric
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. rash — a series
  6. firm — decided
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. suit — in cards
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. current — happening now
  11. suit — clothes
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. scale — in music
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rash — hasty
  18. current — of water
  19. suit — to fit
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. firm — a company
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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