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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 116 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: fall · board · file · rash · mug · calf · bulb · deal

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. bulb — for light
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. board — a committee
  8. mug — to rob
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rash — hasty
  12. board — to get on
  13. mug — a face
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. fall — the season
  16. rash — a series
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. file — a tool
  20. deal — to handle
  21. file — a line of people
  22. fall — to drop
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. fall — to drop

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