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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: rock · calf · saw · mug · lie · rush · bay · squash

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. rock — music
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. saw — the tool
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. rush — hurry
  9. squash — the sport
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. squash — to crush
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — a cup
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. lie — to recline
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. mug — to rob
  23. saw — the tool
  24. rock — a stone

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