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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: temple · lash · calf · ball · mug · foot · hide · lean

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. lean — thin
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. mug — a face
  12. foot — a measure
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. lean — to bend
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. mug — a cup
  18. ball — a great time
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. ball — a dance
  24. mug — to rob

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