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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
468
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: bear · spring · safe · scale · calf · swing · arm · cabinet

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. swing — music
  4. spring — of water
  5. swing — to play on
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. swing — in golf
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. scale — in music
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. scale — size or range
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. spring — a coil
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. spring — the season
  23. bear — the animal
  24. arm — part of the body

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