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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.

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: bay · bank · cabinet · safe · pop · file · season · perch

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bank — for money
  4. file — a tool
  5. perch — the fish
  6. file — a document
  7. pop — soda
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. file — a line of people
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. pop — music
  15. bank — for money
  16. pop — to visit
  17. season — in sport
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bank — of a river
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. season — of the year

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