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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: pitcher · safe · root · wax · press · staff · cue · squash

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. root — of a plant
  3. staff — a stick
  4. press — a publisher
  5. cue — a signal
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. cue — for pool
  8. squash — the sport
  9. squash — to crush
  10. root — of a word
  11. press — to push
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. cue — a hint
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. press — newspapers
  18. root — the cause
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. staff — employees
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. wax — to grow

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