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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: calf · fine · wound · rule · band · leaves · rock · mark

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. mark — a trace
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. band — a ring
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. fine — high quality
  8. wound — an injury
  9. rock — a stone
  10. wound — an injury
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. rule — government
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. band — a music group
  17. mark — a grade
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. fine — all right
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. rock — music
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. leaves — lets stay

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