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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.

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: deal · rash · bowl · calf · coach · key · cabinet · rock

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. key — for a lock
  3. rock — music
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. key — in music
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rash — a series
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. deal — to handle
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. key — the most important part
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. rock — a stone
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. rash — hasty
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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