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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: rock · fine · ruler · straw · land · cue · mine · calf

  1. When are we going to ________________?
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. land — ground
  6. cue — a signal
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. cue — for pool
  9. mine — for digging
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. fine — high quality
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. rock — a stone
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. cue — a hint
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. rock — music
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. land — a country
  21. fine — all right
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. calf — of the leg

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