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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: tube · staff · bank · ruler · bound · calf · rash · sharp

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. staff — employees
  4. sharp — clever
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. bank — for money
  8. bound — tied together
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. bound — obliged
  11. staff — employees
  12. bank — for money
  13. staff — a stick
  14. bank — of a river
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. tube — the underground
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. rash — hasty
  22. tube — a container
  23. rash — a series
  24. rash — on the skin

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