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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: toast · suit · temple · calf · jam · key · wake · straw

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. suit — clothes
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. key — in music
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. toast — bread
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. key — the most important part
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. suit — in cards
  16. key — for a lock
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. wake — a trail
  19. suit — to fit
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. straw — dry grass
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. temple — a place of worship

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