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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 · calf · bowl · fine · lean · safe · hand · wave

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. hand — help
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. lean — thin
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. lean — to bend
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. fine — high quality
  16. fine — all right
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. hand — in cards

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