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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 120 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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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: calf · spring · bank · tube · ruler · pound · lean · bore

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. spring — of water
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. spring — a coil
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. lean — to bend
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. bank — for money
  12. spring — the season
  13. bore — to tire
  14. bank — for money
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. tube — a container
  17. lean — thin
  18. bore — to drill
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. pound — a weight
  22. tube — the underground
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. tube — in a tire

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