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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
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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: bay · row · cabinet · bank · bound · calf · capital · land

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. capital — money
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. land — ground
  5. bound — obliged
  6. capital — a city
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. bound — tied together
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bank — for money
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. capital — a big letter
  18. row — to paddle
  19. land — to come down
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. land — a country
  22. bank — of a river
  23. row — a line
  24. bound — certain

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