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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: mate · season · stick · lash · spell · calf · deal · bay

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  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. mate — a friend
  2. mate — to breed
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. deal — to handle
  10. season — in sport
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. spell — magic
  13. mate — a partner
  14. spell — letters
  15. season — of the year
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. spell — a short time
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  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