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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. court — of a king
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. date — the fruit
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bank — of a river
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. row — a line
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bank — for money
  17. court — of law
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. court — for sport
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. row — to paddle

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