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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
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: pit · calf · key · mouse · tube · row · nail · cabinet

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. pit — a hole
  3. pit — in a race
  4. key — the most important part
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. row — to paddle
  10. tube — a container
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. key — for a lock
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. tube — the underground
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. row — a line
  21. key — in music
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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