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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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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 · stick · mark · fine · wax · stand · jam · calf

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. fine — all right
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. wax — to grow
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. mark — a trace
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. fine — high quality
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. stand — to bear
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. mark — a grade

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