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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bulb · foot · spell · rash · cabinet · pass

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. rash — hasty
  4. spell — a short time
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. foot — a measure
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. rash — a series
  15. spell — magic
  16. spell — letters
  17. pass — a permit
  18. bulb — for light

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