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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
YesNo
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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: hide · calf · rash · rest · band · cabinet · bulb · scale

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. bulb — for light
  4. rash — hasty
  5. band — a music group
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bulb — for light
  9. band — a ring
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. scale — size or range
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. rest — what's left
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. rest — what's left
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. rest — a break
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. rash — a series

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