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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.

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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: straw · squash · rash · calf · ruler · can · safe · deal

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. can — a tin
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. can — to be able to
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rash — a series
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. squash — the sport
  17. deal — to handle
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. rash — hasty
  22. can — a tin
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. squash — to crush

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