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

Word bank: file · toast · ruler · arm · current · hide · wave · calf

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. current — electric
  3. current — happening now
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. file — a tool
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. toast — bread
  12. file — a document
  13. current — of water
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. file — a line of people
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. ruler — for measuring

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