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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: face · bound · fall · ruler · calf · saw · stem · toast

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. face — part of the head
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bound — obliged
  7. bound — certain
  8. face — to point toward
  9. saw — the tool
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. toast — bread
  13. fall — to drop
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. fall — to drop
  16. face — to confront
  17. stem — to come from
  18. bound — tied together
  19. saw — the tool
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. calf — of the leg

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