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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: cabinet · bay · calf · bulb · mate · kick · file · wake

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. file — a document
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. file — a tool
  9. bulb — for light
  10. wake — a trail
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. mate — to breed
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. kick — in football
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. mate — a partner
  20. file — a line of people
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mate — a friend

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