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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: swing · safe · perch · roll · deal · bank · bass · trunk

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. roll — a cake
  3. swing — music
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. perch — the fish
  10. bank — for money
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. bass — low music
  14. swing — to play on
  15. roll — a list
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bank — for money
  19. bass — the fish
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. swing — in golf
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bank — of a river
  24. roll — on a roll

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