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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
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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: drill · mug · key · calf · season · squash · stick · hand

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. key — in music
  3. key — for a lock
  4. squash — the sport
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. season — of the year
  7. drill — the tool
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. drill — army training
  10. hand — in cards
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mug — a face
  17. drill — a practice
  18. season — in sport
  19. mug — a cup
  20. key — the most important part
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. hand — help
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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