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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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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: spring · safe · pass · bay · swing · craft · wind · trunk

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  4. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  5. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. wind — moving air
  4. wind — to turn a key
  5. wind — moving air
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. craft — boats
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. swing — in golf
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. swing — music
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. spring — of water
  17. pass — a permit
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. spring — a coil
  20. spring — the season
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. swing — to play on
  23. craft — a skill
  24. safe — a strongbox

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