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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
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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: squash · calf · key · charge · wake · racket · last · mug

  1. False peace will not ________________.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. key — the most important part
  4. charge — electricity
  5. mug — a cup
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. wake — a trail
  9. mug — to rob
  10. charge — in control
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. last — final
  14. mug — a face
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. key — in music
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. charge — a price
  20. squash — to crush
  21. last — finally
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. squash — the sport
  24. key — for a lock

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