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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: band · row · lie · leaves · ball · ruler · pit · calf

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  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. band — a rubber band
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. row — to paddle
  7. pit — a hole
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. ball — a dance
  10. row — a line
  11. band — a music group
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. band — a ring
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ball — a great time
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. lie — to recline
  23. pit — in a race
  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