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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 · straw · bulb · bound · court · calf · chip · rest

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bound — obliged
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. rest — what's left
  7. chip — to eat
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. chip — for betting
  10. court — of a king
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. bound — tied together
  15. rest — a break
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. straw — to clutch at straws
  18. bulb — for light
  19. court — for sport
  20. bound — certain
  21. court — of law
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. rest — what's left

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