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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 · date · staff · safe · band · roll · fall · bay

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  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. roll — a list
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. fall — to drop
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bank — for money
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. bank — for money
  10. date — the fruit
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. staff — a stick
  13. staff — employees
  14. fall — the season
  15. band — a ring
  16. band — a music group
  17. roll — a cake
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. staff — employees
  21. fall — to drop
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  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