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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.

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: stand · press · wound · last · rock · safe · object · root

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. root — of a plant
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. last — final
  6. object — a thing
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. press — newspapers
  9. press — to push
  10. object — to protest
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. last — to go on
  13. press — a publisher
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. wound — an injury
  16. wound — an injury
  17. last — finally
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. rock — a stone
  20. stand — to bear
  21. root — the cause
  22. rock — music
  23. object — an aim
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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