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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
468
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: calf · fan · spring · wake · ruler · chair · nail · wave

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. spring — the season
  3. spring — of water
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. spring — a coil
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. chair — a leader
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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