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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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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: wake · swing · rush · nail · calf · key · cue · lean

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. swing — to play on
  3. cue — a hint
  4. swing — music
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. cue — a signal
  8. cue — for pool
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. wake — a trail
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. lean — thin
  14. key — in music
  15. swing — in golf
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. key — the most important part
  18. rush — hurry
  19. key — for a lock
  20. lean — to bend
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. nail — on a finger

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