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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.

Make a worksheet

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: squash · rush · mate · mug · root · safe · racket · lean

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. squash — the sport
  3. rush — hurry
  4. root — of a word
  5. mate — to breed
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mug — a face
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mug — a cup
  13. lean — to bend
  14. squash — to crush
  15. lean — thin
  16. mate — a friend
  17. root — of a plant
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. root — the cause
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. mate — a partner
  24. racket — a loud noise

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