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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 · nail · rash · wave · trunk · toast · key · mark

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. mark — a trace
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. key — for a lock
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. rash — hasty
  14. mark — a grade
  15. key — the most important part
  16. key — in music
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. rash — a series
  19. toast — bread
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. calf — a young animal

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