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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: leaves · wake · safe · bound · root · stand · hand · rash

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. root — of a word
  5. bound — certain
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. bound — tied together
  11. rash — hasty
  12. wake — a trail
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. stand — to bear
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bound — obliged
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. root — of a plant
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. hand — in cards
  22. root — the cause
  23. hand — help
  24. stand — for spectators

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