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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. cap — of ice
  7. board — to get on
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. board — a committee
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. chip — to eat
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. toast — bread
  15. saw — the tool
  16. chip — for betting
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. saw — the tool
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. cap — a hat
  24. cap — a lid

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