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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: stock · pitcher · ruler · mate · ground · game · face · calf

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ground — the earth
  3. ground — a position
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. game — wild animals
  8. face — to point toward
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. stock — shares
  11. game — a match
  12. stock — goods
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. face — to confront
  15. ground — crushed
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. mate — to breed
  18. face — part of the head
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mate — a partner

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