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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: cap · bay · roll · perch · fine · rule · calf · coach

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. perch — the fish
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. roll — a list
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. rule — government
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. cap — a hat
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. roll — a cake
  15. cap — a lid
  16. fine — high quality
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. rule — a law
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. cap — of ice
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. perch — for a bird

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