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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.

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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: nail · rule · rash · bulb · lie · suit · cabinet · calf

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. rule — a law
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. rash — a series
  7. suit — to fit
  8. suit — in cards
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bulb — for light
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. suit — clothes
  17. bulb — for light
  18. rule — government
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. lie — to recline
  23. rash — hasty
  24. lie — an untruth

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