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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: last · key · mark · spring · hide · rash · calf · pound

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. key — the most important part
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. mark — a trace
  5. spring — of water
  6. rash — a series
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. last — final
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. mark — a grade
  12. key — in music
  13. last — finally
  14. spring — the season
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. last — to go on
  19. spring — a coil
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. key — for a lock
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. rash — hasty

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