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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: bulb · pass · cabinet · spell · calf · stand · nail · jam

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. spell — magic
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. spell — letters
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. spell — a short time
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. bulb — for light
  19. pass — a permit
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bulb — for light
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. bulb — of a plant

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