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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
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: mouse · fine · bark · calf · last · mate · ruler · staff

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  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. mouse — the animal
  3. last — to go on
  4. staff — employees
  5. mate — to breed
  6. last — finally
  7. fine — all right
  8. staff — a stick
  9. mate — a partner
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. fine — high quality
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. staff — employees
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bark — to shout
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mate — a friend
  23. last — final
  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