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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: ruler · object · board · fan · hide · hand · kid · calf

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  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. object — to protest
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. hand — help
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. board — a committee
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. hand — in cards
  18. object — an aim
  19. board — to get on
  20. object — a thing
  21. kid — child
  22. kid — to tease
  23. hide — animal skin
  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