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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 120 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 · sharp · rock · mark · lash · foot · pitcher · board

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. rock — a stone
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. foot — a measure
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. rock — music
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. sharp — clever
  19. mark — a grade
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. board — to get on
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. board — a committee
  24. mark — a trace

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