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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: ruler · game · straw · wax · pass · toast · calf · board

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. game — wild animals
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. pass — a permit
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. wax — to grow
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. board — a committee
  17. board — to get on
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. toast — bread
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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