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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 120 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: calf · mate · rush · pitch · bank · root · saw · key

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. mate — to breed
  3. root — of a word
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. root — the cause
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. saw — the tool
  11. key — in music
  12. bank — of a river
  13. bank — for money
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. key — for a lock
  16. key — the most important part
  17. pitch — completely
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. bank — for money
  20. mate — a partner
  21. rush — hurry
  22. root — of a plant
  23. saw — the tool
  24. mate — a friend

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