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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: bank · bass · spring · safe · rash · cabinet · calf · cap

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. bank — for money
  3. bass — the fish
  4. rash — hasty
  5. spring — of water
  6. spring — the season
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bass — low music
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. spring — a coil
  12. bank — for money
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. cap — a hat
  15. rash — a series
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cap — of ice
  20. cap — a lid
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. calf — a young animal

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