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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: rock · mug · toast · foot · fine · calf · scale · lash

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. scale — in music
  4. mug — a cup
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. rock — a stone
  7. mug — a face
  8. foot — a measure
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. rock — music
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. scale — size or range
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. toast — bread
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. fine — high quality
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. mug — to rob
  22. fine — all right
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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