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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 · roll · ball · safe · bank · sharp · suit · wake

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. roll — a cake
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bank — for money
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. suit — in cards
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. wake — a trail
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. bank — of a river
  16. sharp — clever
  17. suit — clothes
  18. ball — a dance
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. ball — a great time
  23. bank — for money
  24. roll — a list

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