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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: vault · spell · calf · hand · wave · press · key · safe

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. spell — a short time
  4. key — in music
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. hand — help
  7. spell — letters
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. spell — magic
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. press — a publisher
  14. hand — in cards
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. vault — a safe
  17. press — to push
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. key — for a lock
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. press — newspapers
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. key — the most important part

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