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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: calf · racket · mouse · rest · rock · deal · lie · key

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. key — in music
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. rest — what's left
  6. key — the most important part
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. deal — to handle
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. rock — a stone
  15. lie — to recline
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. rest — what's left
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. key — for a lock
  21. rest — a break
  22. rock — music
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lie — an untruth

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