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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.

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: mine · cabinet · ruler · calf · fall · can · pass · bulb

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. mine — for digging
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. can — a tin
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. fall — to drop
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. bulb — for light
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. can — to be able to
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. fall — the season
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. bulb — for light
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. pass — a permit
  24. can — a tin

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