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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.

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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: rock · cabinet · lash · land · bank · safe · staff · can

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. staff — employees
  3. bank — of a river
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. land — a country
  7. bank — for money
  8. can — a tin
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. staff — employees
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. bank — for money
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. can — to be able to
  18. rock — music
  19. land — to come down
  20. staff — a stick
  21. rock — a stone
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. land — ground

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