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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: calf · press · key · suit · pitcher · saw · rush · scale

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. key — in music
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. key — for a lock
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. press — to push
  9. press — newspapers
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. saw — the tool
  12. suit — in cards
  13. suit — clothes
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. scale — in music
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. saw — the tool
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. suit — to fit
  21. press — a publisher
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. rush — hurry
  24. scale — size or range

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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