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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: charge · bay · net · patient · calf · ruler · bat · swing

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bat — the animal
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. charge — electricity
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. swing — to play on
  8. net — after costs
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. charge — a price
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. swing — music
  16. net — for catching
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bat — in an idiom
  19. charge — in control
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. swing — in golf
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. net — in sport
  24. bay — a horse colour

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