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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: calf · fan · pop · fine · can · lash · march · charge

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. charge — electricity
  4. march — the month
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. can — to be able to
  7. charge — in control
  8. can — a tin
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. fine — all right
  11. march — music
  12. pop — music
  13. charge — a price
  14. march — the month
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. pop — to visit
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. can — a tin
  19. pop — soda
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fine — high quality

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