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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: firm · calf · lash · jam · bay · spring · date · hide

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. spring — a coil
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. firm — steady
  8. spring — the season
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. spring — of water
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. date — the fruit
  17. firm — a company
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. firm — decided
  24. lash — an eyelash

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