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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 120 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
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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: key · calf · stand · arm · club · sharp · bore · net

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bore — to drill
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. net — for catching
  7. net — after costs
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. net — in sport
  10. key — the most important part
  11. key — for a lock
  12. club — a group
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. club — for golf
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. stand — to bear
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. bore — to tire
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. key — in music
  24. club — for dancing

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