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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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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: safe · rock · bank · march · present · cap · calf · swing

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. swing — to play on
  4. bank — for money
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. present — the time now
  7. swing — in golf
  8. present — a gift
  9. swing — music
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. present — there
  12. march — the month
  13. bank — of a river
  14. march — the month
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cap — a hat
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. cap — of ice
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rock — a stone
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rock — music
  23. cap — a lid
  24. march — 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