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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: lie · nail · calf · ruler · mark · wound · can · season

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. mark — a grade
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. can — to be able to
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. wound — an injury
  13. mark — a trace
  14. lie — to recline
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. season — of the year
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. wound — an injury
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. nail — for a hammer

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