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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: branch · jam · ball · sharp · ruler · calf · trunk · nail

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. sharp — clever
  4. ball — a dance
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. branch — a division
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. ball — a great time
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. jam — a tight spot
  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