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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: mate · calf · rush · scale · drill · foot · safe · mouse

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. drill — the tool
  5. rush — hurry
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. mate — to breed
  8. foot — a measure
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. scale — in music
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. drill — a practice
  20. scale — size or range
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. mate — a friend
  23. mate — a partner
  24. drill — army training

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