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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: roll · key · rock · wake · calf · wound · bear · squash

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. rock — music
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. squash — to crush
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bear — the animal
  7. key — in music
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. wound — an injury
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. rock — a stone
  13. key — for a lock
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. wake — a trail
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bear — the animal
  21. squash — the sport
  22. roll — a list
  23. wound — an injury
  24. roll — a cake

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