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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.

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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: branch · firm · march · safe · cabinet · mark · can · swing

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. can — a tin
  4. march — music
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. swing — in golf
  7. swing — music
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. march — the month
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. mark — a trace
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. can — to be able to
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. march — the month
  19. firm — a company
  20. can — a tin
  21. swing — to play on
  22. firm — decided
  23. mark — a grade
  24. branch — a division

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