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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: bank · safe · root · dip · nail · rash · stem · rule

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  15. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. bank — for money
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. stem — to come from
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. dip — to sink
  7. bank — of a river
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. bank — for money
  14. rule — government
  15. rule — to rule out
  16. rash — a series
  17. rule — a law
  18. root — of a word
  19. root — of a plant
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. rash — hasty
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. root — the cause

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