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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 120 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: ruler · mine · key · calf · hide · board · march · face

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. key — the most important part
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. key — for a lock
  6. face — to confront
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. face — part of the head
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. board — to get on
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. mine — for digging
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. board — a committee
  16. march — the month
  17. march — the month
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. key — in music
  20. face — to point toward
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. march — music

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