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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: calf · jam · pit · lash · rush · leaves · kid · key

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. rush — hurry
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. pit — a hole
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. key — the most important part
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. kid — child
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. key — in music
  17. key — for a lock
  18. kid — to tease
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. pit — in a race
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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