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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.

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: bulb · cap · cabinet · bear · ball · bore · mouse · calf

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. bore — to drill
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — for light
  7. ball — a great time
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. cap — a lid
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bear — the animal
  18. ball — a dance
  19. bore — to tire
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bear — the animal
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cap — of ice

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