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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 giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bank — for money
  4. rash — hasty
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. season — in sport
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. season — of the year
  13. bank — for money
  14. lean — to bend
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. lean — thin
  19. rash — a series
  20. wound — an injury
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. bank — of a river
  24. wound — an injury

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