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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 120 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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. pound — a weight
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. prune — to trim
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. ground — the earth
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. ground — a position
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. ground — crushed
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. lie — to recline
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. prune — to trim
  24. foot — a measure

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