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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: calf · hide · foot · last · game · key · fine · rash

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. last — to go on
  3. key — for a lock
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. last — final
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. last — finally
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. rash — a series
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. rash — hasty
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. fine — high quality
  15. foot — a measure
  16. key — in music
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. key — the most important part
  19. game — wild animals
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. game — a match
  23. fine — all right
  24. foot — part of the body

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