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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 · club · track · lean · perch · calf · roll · squash

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lean — thin
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. lean — to bend
  5. club — for golf
  6. track — to keep track
  7. perch — the fish
  8. roll — a list
  9. squash — the sport
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. club — a group
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. track — a song
  16. roll — a cake
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. club — for dancing
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. squash — to crush
  24. track — a path

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