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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: calf · lash · roll · rest · bore · bay · ruler · tube

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. rest — what's left
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. bore — to tire
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. rest — what's left
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. tube — the underground
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. roll — a cake
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. roll — a list
  17. tube — a container
  18. rest — a break
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. bore — to drill
  24. calf — a young animal

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