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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: sharp · last · cap · nail · ruler · roll · wax · calf

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. At ________________, we arrived at the village.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. last — final
  4. cap — of ice
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. cap — a hat
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. roll — a list
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. last — to go on
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. wax — to grow
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. cap — a lid
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. roll — a cake
  22. sharp — clever
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. last — finally

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