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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: march · calf · rock · rash · cabinet · bulb · mouse · sharp

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. march — the month
  5. rash — hasty
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. bulb — for light
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. rash — a series
  14. march — music
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. march — the month
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. rock — music
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bulb — for light

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