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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · shower · kick · chest · mug · lash · sharp · jam

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. mug — a face
  5. kick — in football
  6. mug — to rob
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. sharp — clever
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. shower — rain
  12. shower — to wash
  13. mug — a cup
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. chest — a box
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. chest — of your body
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. chest — of your body

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