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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: drill · scale · sharp · wave · vault · key · bound · calf

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. scale — in music
  3. drill — the tool
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. sharp — clever
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. bound — obliged
  11. key — the most important part
  12. bound — tied together
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. bound — certain
  15. key — for a lock
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. key — in music
  19. scale — size or range
  20. vault — a safe
  21. drill — a practice
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. drill — army training
  24. sharp — exactly

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