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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
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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: prune · face · pitcher · rock · pass · board · ruler · calf

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. face — to point toward
  4. face — to confront
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. board — to get on
  7. pass — a permit
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. prune — to trim
  10. rock — a stone
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. face — part of the head
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. prune — to trim
  20. board — a committee
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. rock — music
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. calf — a young animal

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