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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: key · calf · snap · face · trunk · deal · rash · sharp

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  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. trunk — of a tree
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. rash — a series
  6. face — part of the head
  7. face — to confront
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. deal — to handle
  13. key — the most important part
  14. sharp — clever
  15. rash — hasty
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. key — for a lock
  18. face — to point toward
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. key — in music
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. snap — to click
  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