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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.

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: cabinet · march · rush · safe · staff · fork · kick · arm

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  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. march — the month
  2. staff — employees
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. kick — in football
  7. staff — a stick
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. rush — hurry
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. march — music
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. staff — employees
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. march — the month
  23. fork — in a road
  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