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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.

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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: spring · cabinet · mouse · roll · bowl · game · safe · bank

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. spring — the season
  3. spring — a coil
  4. roll — a list
  5. roll — a cake
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. spring — of water
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. bank — for money
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. game — wild animals
  16. game — a match
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bank — for money
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. safe — out of danger

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