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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: current · ball · mark · shower · calf · ruler · tube · bulb

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. ball — a dance
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. shower — rain
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. current — electric
  8. bulb — for light
  9. current — happening now
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. bulb — for light
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. shower — to wash
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. tube — a container
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. current — of water
  19. ball — a great time
  20. mark — a trace
  21. mark — a grade
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. tube — the underground

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