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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.

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: cabinet · lash · key · saw · pitch · calf · object · drill

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. object — a thing
  3. drill — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. key — for a lock
  8. drill — a practice
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. key — the most important part
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. object — to protest
  15. drill — army training
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. key — in music
  23. pitch — completely
  24. calf — a young 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