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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.

Make a worksheet

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: key · ball · safe · rush · wax · bank · kid · calf

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. ball — a round shape
  2. bank — for money
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. key — in music
  5. ball — a great time
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. bank — of a river
  9. wax — to grow
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. key — for a lock
  15. bank — for money
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. kid — child
  20. kid — to tease
  21. ball — a dance
  22. rush — hurry
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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