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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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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: club · temple · ruler · key · calf · straw · toast · kick

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. club — for dancing
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. kick — in football
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. club — for golf
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. club — a group
  15. key — the most important part
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. toast — bread
  19. key — in music
  20. key — for a lock
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. ruler — for measuring

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