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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: sharp · calf · foot · scale · toast · firm · fork · kick

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. scale — in music
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. scale — size or range
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. fork — in a road
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. sharp — clever
  11. foot — a measure
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. kick — in football
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. firm — steady
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. firm — decided
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. firm — a company
  24. toast — bread

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