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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.

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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: saw · calf · rash · mate · key · arm · cap · rest

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. key — in music
  3. key — the most important part
  4. rest — what's left
  5. key — for a lock
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. cap — of ice
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. mate — a friend
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. rest — what's left
  13. mate — a partner
  14. rash — a series
  15. rash — hasty
  16. cap — a lid
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. saw — the tool
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. cap — a hat
  21. mate — to breed
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. rest — a break

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