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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 120 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: calf · rash · bank · bulb · plane · hide · can · swing

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. rash — hasty
  3. swing — to play on
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. swing — in golf
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bulb — for light
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bank — for money
  16. rash — a series
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. can — a tin
  19. plane — a tool
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bank — for money
  24. can — a tin

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