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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.

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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: rest · can · game · drill · ball · calf · staff · rush

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. can — a tin
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. rest — what's left
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. drill — the tool
  8. rush — hurry
  9. can — to be able to
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. staff — a stick
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. drill — a practice
  15. staff — employees
  16. ball — a dance
  17. game — wild animals
  18. ball — a great time
  19. rest — a break
  20. game — a match
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. drill — army training
  23. can — a tin
  24. rest — what's left

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