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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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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: toast · straw · lean · mouse · ruler · calf · lash · net

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. lean — to bend
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. lean — thin
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. net — after costs
  14. net — in sport
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. net — for catching
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. toast — bread
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. ruler — a monarch

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