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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: lash · cue · nail · drill · calf · season · firm · rock

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. cue — a signal
  3. firm — a company
  4. cue — a hint
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. drill — army training
  8. firm — decided
  9. firm — steady
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. drill — a practice
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. season — of the year
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. drill — the tool
  17. cue — for pool
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. season — in sport
  23. rock — music
  24. rock — a stone

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