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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: saw · mouse · sharp · pass · staff · key · calf · bore

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. saw — the tool
  3. key — in music
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. saw — the tool
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. pass — a permit
  11. staff — a stick
  12. staff — employees
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. sharp — clever
  16. staff — employees
  17. bore — to drill
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — for a lock
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. bore — to tire
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. mouse — the animal

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