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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 116 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: calf · snap · pitcher · lash · pass · trunk · mine · fine

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. fine — all right
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. snap — to click
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. pass — a permit
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. fine — high quality
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. mine — for digging

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