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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: safe · net · squash · spring · calf · rest · rock · key

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. spring — of water
  4. key — the most important part
  5. net — for catching
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rest — a break
  8. spring — the season
  9. rock — a stone
  10. net — in sport
  11. net — after costs
  12. rock — music
  13. rest — what's left
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. squash — to crush
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. key — for a lock
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. squash — the sport
  22. key — in music
  23. spring — a coil
  24. safe — out of danger

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