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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: safe · press · rash · toast · spell · swing · stem · board

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. rash — a series
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. stem — to come from
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. swing — in golf
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. press — a publisher
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. spell — magic
  12. board — to get on
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. press — to push
  15. spell — a short time
  16. spell — letters
  17. rash — hasty
  18. toast — bread
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. swing — to play on
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. board — a committee
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. swing — music

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