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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: cabinet · bank · key · sharp · board · safe · band · pop

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. pop — music
  3. bank — for money
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pop — soda
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. pop — to visit
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. board — to get on
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. bank — of a river
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. key — for a lock
  17. bank — for money
  18. band — a ring
  19. band — a music group
  20. board — a committee
  21. key — the most important part
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. sharp — clever
  24. key — in music

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