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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
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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: ruler · saw · leaves · firm · temple · bat · calf · jam

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. firm — decided
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. bat — the animal
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. firm — steady
  17. firm — a company
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. leaves — of a tree

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