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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.

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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: lie · rush · roll · calf · pass · perch · plane · rash

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. pass — a permit
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. rash — a series
  6. lie — to recline
  7. roll — a list
  8. rash — hasty
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. plane — a tool
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. perch — the fish
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. rush — hurry
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. rush — to hurry

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