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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: leaves · pitch · mark · safe · bank · shower · trunk · swing

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bank — for money
  4. mark — a trace
  5. swing — in golf
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. mark — a grade
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. bank — of a river
  10. shower — rain
  11. shower — to wash
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. swing — to play on
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. pitch — completely
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. bank — for money
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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