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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: rock · calf · lash · charge · pitch · key · stock · mouse

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. rock — a stone
  3. charge — a price
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. key — in music
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. stock — shares
  14. pitch — completely
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. charge — electricity
  17. charge — in control
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — the most important part
  22. rock — music
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. stock — goods

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