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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: sharp · key · cabinet · safe · calf · content · rest · arm

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. key — the most important part
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. rest — what's left
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. content — happy
  17. key — for a lock
  18. rest — a break
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. rest — what's left
  21. content — the amount
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. key — in music
  24. cabinet — ministers

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