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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: rash · cell · ball · root · pass · safe · spring · suit

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. spring — of water
  5. ball — a dance
  6. root — of a plant
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. spring — the season
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rash — hasty
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. cell — in biology
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. spring — a coil
  16. suit — in cards
  17. pass — a permit
  18. ball — a great time
  19. root — of a word
  20. cell — a phone
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. root — the cause
  24. rash — a series

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