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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: bore · nail · mark · mug · rash · calf · hide · cabinet

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. mug — a cup
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. rash — a series
  5. mark — a grade
  6. bore — to tire
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. rash — hasty
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. mark — a trace
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bore — to drill
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mug — a face
  24. cabinet — ministers

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