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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.

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: calf · cap · game · coach · ruler · court · temple · rock

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. court — of a king
  4. cap — a hat
  5. court — for sport
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. rock — a stone
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. game — a match
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. cap — a lid
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. rock — music
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. cap — of ice
  22. court — of law
  23. game — wild animals
  24. calf — a young animal

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