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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: scale · foot · snap · staff · calf · cue · hand · cabinet

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. staff — employees
  3. cue — a signal
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. staff — employees
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. scale — in music
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. hand — help
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. cue — a hint
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. snap — to click
  15. hand — in cards
  16. cue — for pool
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. staff — a stick
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. scale — size or range
  24. scale — for weighing

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