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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 116 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: leaves · calf · sharp · dip · game · prune · rock · ruler

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. sharp — clever
  4. dip — to sink
  5. prune — to trim
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. game — a match
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. prune — to trim
  18. rock — a stone
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. rock — music
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. game — wild animals

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