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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
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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: rash · sharp · staff · safe · mate · root · stem · hand

  1. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. rash — a series
  3. staff — employees
  4. staff — a stick
  5. root — of a word
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. sharp — clever
  8. staff — employees
  9. root — the cause
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. mate — a partner
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. mate — a friend
  16. hand — in cards
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. root — of a plant
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. stem — to come from
  21. rash — hasty
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mate — to breed

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