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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: calf · mate · mug · season · scale · lash · march · kid

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. mug — to rob
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. scale — in music
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. mug — a face
  8. kid — child
  9. season — of the year
  10. mate — a partner
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. kid — to tease
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. mate — to breed
  15. march — music
  16. mate — a friend
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. mug — a cup
  19. march — the month
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. march — the month
  24. scale — size or range

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