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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: safe · bulb · cap · cabinet · mine · bank · arm · hand

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. hand — in cards
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. cap — a lid
  6. cap — a hat
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bulb — for light
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bank — for money
  11. hand — help
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. bank — for money
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. cap — of ice
  23. mine — for digging
  24. bank — of a river

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