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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: lash · saw · calf · snap · pit · rash · lean · cabinet

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. snap — to click
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. lean — to bend
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. rash — a series
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. rash — hasty
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. lean — thin
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. saw — the tool
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. saw — the tool
  24. pit — in a race

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