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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: plane · cap · nail · rush · can · rock · calf · ruler

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. rush — hurry
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. can — a tin
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. can — to be able to
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. cap — a lid
  11. cap — of ice
  12. rock — a stone
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. rock — music
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. plane — a tool
  20. can — a tin
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. cap — a hat
  24. rush — to hurry

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