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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: tube · pitcher · scale · lean · calf · bound · press · lash

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  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. lean — to rest against
  2. press — to push
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. tube — a container
  6. press — a publisher
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. scale — size or range
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. lean — to bend
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. lean — thin
  14. press — newspapers
  15. scale — in music
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. tube — the underground
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bound — certain
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bound — obliged
  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