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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: rash · branch · cabinet · calf · rule · leaves · bulb · pop

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. branch — a division
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. rule — government
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rash — a series
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. rule — a law
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rash — hasty
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. pop — soda
  23. pop — to visit
  24. calf — a young animal

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