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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: ruler · rock · saw · mark · hide · pitch · calf · face

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. mark — a grade
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. pitch — completely
  5. face — part of the head
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. face — to confront
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. rock — music
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. rock — a stone
  15. face — to point toward
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. saw — the tool
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. mark — a trace

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