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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 116 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: lean · bank · lash · calf · tube · cabinet · rush · last

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. bank — for money
  3. bank — for money
  4. tube — a container
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. bank — of a river
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. last — final
  19. lean — to bend
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. tube — the underground
  22. rush — hurry
  23. last — to go on
  24. lean — thin

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