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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: rule · bulb · current · calf · rock · cabinet · bore · board

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. board — to get on
  5. rock — music
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. rule — government
  8. bore — to drill
  9. bore — to tire
  10. current — happening now
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bulb — for light
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rule — a law
  16. current — electric
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. current — of water
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. bulb — for light
  21. rock — a stone
  22. board — a committee
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. rule — to rule out

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