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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: mug · safe · board · bark · jam · hand · straw · ruler

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. mug — a face
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bark — to shout
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. board — a committee
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mug — a cup
  14. hand — in cards
  15. hand — help
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. ruler — a monarch

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