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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: stem · lie · land · pass · rush · toast · saw · safe

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. land — to come down
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rush — hurry
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. land — ground
  12. stem — to come from
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. toast — bread
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. lie — to recline
  20. saw — the tool
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pass — a permit
  24. saw — the tool

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