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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: calf · bank · roll · rock · dip · cabinet · season · hand

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. hand — help
  4. bank — of a river
  5. season — in sport
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. bank — for money
  8. rock — music
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bank — for money
  13. dip — to sink
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. season — of the year
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. rock — a stone
  20. hand — in cards
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. roll — a cake
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. calf — of the leg

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