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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: calf · net · tube · game · mug · degree · firm · ruler

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. firm — decided
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. game — wild animals
  6. degree — an amount
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. degree — from a university
  9. tube — the underground
  10. firm — a company
  11. mug — a cup
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. firm — steady
  15. net — for catching
  16. mug — a face
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. game — a match
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. degree — temperature
  22. tube — a container
  23. net — after costs
  24. mug — to rob

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