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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
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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: calf · row · ruler · band · mug · mark · can · bowl

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. band — a ring
  4. row — to paddle
  5. mug — a face
  6. can — a tin
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. mug — a cup
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. mug — to rob
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. mark — a grade
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. band — a music group
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. can — a tin
  21. mark — a trace
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. row — a line
  24. row — a quarrel

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