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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: hand · calf · saw · stem · ruler · lash · object · safe

  1. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. object — a thing
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — the tool
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. object — to protest
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. object — an aim
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. hand — in cards
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. stem — to come from
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. lash — to lash out

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