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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: calf · key · cue · coach · fall · vault · game · drill

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. fall — the season
  3. drill — a practice
  4. cue — a hint
  5. vault — a safe
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. fall — to drop
  8. key — the most important part
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. key — in music
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. drill — army training
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. key — for a lock
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. cue — for pool
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. cue — a signal
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. game — wild animals
  22. fall — to drop
  23. game — a match
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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