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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: face · pass · lash · swing · calf · foot · rock · cabinet

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. rock — music
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. foot — a measure
  7. swing — music
  8. rock — a stone
  9. face — to point toward
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. swing — to play on
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. face — part of the head
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. face — to confront
  21. pass — a permit
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. calf — of the leg

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