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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: can · rest · pit · key · mark · rock · calf · date

  1. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. rest — what's left
  4. can — a tin
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. mark — a grade
  7. key — for a lock
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. key — the most important part
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. can — a tin
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. rest — what's left
  15. rock — a stone
  16. rock — music
  17. pit — a hole
  18. key — in music
  19. can — to be able to
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. mark — a trace
  23. pit — in a race
  24. date — the fruit

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