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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: hand · current · stand · rash · vault · calf · lash · lean

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. current — happening now
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. hand — in cards
  5. rash — hasty
  6. lean — thin
  7. stand — to bear
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. current — electric
  12. hand — help
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. vault — a safe
  15. lean — to bend
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. rash — a series
  21. current — of water
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. lean — to rest against

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