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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: hand · cue · dip · key · bank · calf · straw · ruler

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bank — of a river
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. cue — a signal
  8. hand — in cards
  9. cue — a hint
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. key — in music
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. cue — for pool
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. hand — help
  16. key — for a lock
  17. dip — to sink
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. key — the most important part
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. bank — for money
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. bank — for money

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