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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 112 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: mark · ball · ruler · object · bound · pitcher · calf · cap

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bound — tied together
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. object — a thing
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. ball — a great time
  9. object — to protest
  10. ball — a dance
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. cap — of ice
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. bound — certain
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bound — obliged
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. cap — a lid
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. object — an aim
  23. mark — a trace
  24. pitcher — a jug

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