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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: hand · can · cabinet · track · swing · safe · trunk · saw

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. track — to keep track
  3. can — a tin
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. hand — in cards
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. can — a tin
  8. swing — in golf
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. track — a path
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. can — to be able to
  15. saw — the tool
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. swing — music
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. saw — the tool
  20. track — a song
  21. hand — help
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. swing — to play on

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