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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: can · pit · scale · face · calf · bear · lash · rush

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. rush — hurry
  4. face — to point toward
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. scale — size or range
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. can — a tin
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. face — part of the head
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. pit — a hole
  14. bear — the animal
  15. pit — in a race
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. can — a tin
  19. face — to confront
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. scale — in music
  23. can — to be able to
  24. bear — the animal

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