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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pitcher · chip · mug · key · calf · kid · lash · can

  1. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — child
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. mug — to rob
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. key — for a lock
  11. chip — for betting
  12. mug — a face
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. chip — to eat
  15. key — the most important part
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. kid — to tease
  21. can — a tin
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. key — in music
  24. mug — a cup

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