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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bound · scale · wave · calf · key · rest · lean · shower

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. scale — size or range
  3. rest — what's left
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. bound — certain
  8. shower — to wash
  9. shower — rain
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. lean — to bend
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. lean — thin
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. key — in music
  17. scale — in music
  18. key — for a lock
  19. bound — obliged
  20. rest — a break
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. bound — tied together
  23. rest — what's left
  24. key — the most important part

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