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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: game · bound · rash · lie · craft · calf · drill · bulb

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bulb — for light
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. game — a match
  5. drill — the tool
  6. drill — army training
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. bound — tied together
  12. craft — a skill
  13. bound — certain
  14. lie — to recline
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. drill — a practice
  20. craft — boats
  21. rash — hasty
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bound — obliged
  24. game — wild animals

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