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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: pop · roll · charge · mug · calf · lie · lash · net

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. pop — soda
  3. net — for catching
  4. lie — to recline
  5. charge — a price
  6. pop — music
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. net — in sport
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. mug — a face
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. pop — to visit
  15. mug — to rob
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. mug — a cup
  18. charge — in control
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. net — after costs
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. charge — electricity
  23. roll — a list
  24. roll — a cake

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