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

Word bank: ruler · lean · hand · saw · calf · branch · firm · rush

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. saw — the tool
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. firm — steady
  8. branch — a division
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. hand — help
  12. lean — thin
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. hand — in cards
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. firm — decided
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. saw — the tool
  21. firm — a company
  22. rush — hurry
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. branch — 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