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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 · lash · field · last · leaves · calf · firm · bear

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. firm — decided
  3. last — final
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. field — for sport
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. bear — the animal
  14. last — finally
  15. field — farmland
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. field — a subject
  21. last — to go on
  22. firm — a company
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. firm — steady

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