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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. roll — a cake
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. last — to go on
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. last — finally
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. game — wild animals
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. game — a match
  21. wake — a trail
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. last — final
  24. roll — a list

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