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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: object · calf · sharp · arm · rash · swing · roll · rock

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. object — a thing
  3. rash — hasty
  4. swing — music
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. roll — a list
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — clever
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. roll — a cake
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. object — to protest
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. swing — to play on
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. rock — music
  20. rash — a series
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. rock — a stone
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. object — an aim

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