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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 120 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: stand · saw · current · safe · march · root · pitch · spring

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. root — the cause
  3. march — music
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. march — the month
  8. saw — the tool
  9. spring — the season
  10. march — the month
  11. root — of a word
  12. pitch — completely
  13. spring — of water
  14. current — electric
  15. spring — a coil
  16. stand — to bear
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. root — of a plant
  21. current — of water
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. current — happening now

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