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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: lash · calf · ground · fan · bark · stick · date · bore

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. date — the fruit
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. bore — to drill
  7. ground — the earth
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. bore — to tire
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. ground — crushed
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. bark — to shout
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. ground — a position

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