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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: safe · pit · press · roll · staff · wake · shower · mark

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. roll — a cake
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. pit — a hole
  6. shower — rain
  7. mark — a grade
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. roll — a list
  10. mark — a trace
  11. pit — in a race
  12. staff — employees
  13. shower — to wash
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. press — to push
  17. staff — employees
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. staff — a stick
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. press — a publisher
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. wake — a trail

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