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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.

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: net · snap · calf · lean · lash · lie · dip · mug

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. net — for catching
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. mug — a cup
  5. lean — to bend
  6. dip — to sink
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. net — in sport
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. lean — thin
  18. lie — to recline
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. mug — to rob
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. net — after costs
  23. mug — a face
  24. snap — to click

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