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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: ball · lash · deal · bore · calf · firm · stick · jam

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. bore — to drill
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. firm — steady
  7. firm — decided
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. ball — a dance
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. deal — to handle
  20. bore — to tire
  21. firm — a company
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. ball — a great time

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