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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: calf · cabinet · nail · rash · cap · bear · season · lie

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. rash — hasty
  4. rash — a series
  5. cap — a hat
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cap — a lid
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. bear — the animal
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. bear — the animal
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cap — of ice
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. lie — to recline
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. season — in sport
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. bear — to put up with

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