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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: sharp · cue · kick · patient · lash · calf · lean · bass

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. sharp — clever
  3. cue — for pool
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. bass — the fish
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. cue — a hint
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. bass — low music
  20. kick — in football
  21. cue — a signal
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. lean — to bend

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