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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.

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: nail · fan · trunk · rash · rush · calf · dip · hide

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rush — hurry
  8. dip — to sink
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. rash — a series
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. dip — to dunk

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