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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 · hand · ruler · straw · bound · craft · object · mate

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. hand — help
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. mate — a partner
  7. bound — obliged
  8. bound — tied together
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. mate — a friend
  12. bound — certain
  13. object — an aim
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. craft — a skill
  16. hand — in cards
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. object — a thing
  19. mate — to breed
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. craft — boats
  23. object — to protest
  24. calf — of the leg

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