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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: sharp · march · leaves · cabinet · stick · calf · key · ruler

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. key — in music
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. key — the most important part
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. key — for a lock
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. march — the month
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. sharp — clever
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. march — music
  23. march — the month
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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