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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: calf · hide · pop · tube · ruler · suit · file · fine

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. tube — a container
  3. fine — high quality
  4. pop — music
  5. pop — to visit
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. file — a line of people
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. file — a tool
  12. tube — the underground
  13. pop — soda
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. file — a document
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. suit — in cards
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. suit — to fit
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. suit — clothes
  24. fine — all right

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