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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 116 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. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. rock — a stone
  5. key — for a lock
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. key — in music
  8. key — the most important part
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. mate — a partner
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. stock — shares
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. stock — goods
  18. mate — a friend
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. mate — to breed
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. rock — music
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. calf — a young animal

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