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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: rush · rock · pass · root · sharp · mate · saw · staff

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. root — of a plant
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. staff — employees
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. pass — a permit
  7. rock — music
  8. saw — the tool
  9. root — the cause
  10. rush — hurry
  11. saw — the tool
  12. mate — to breed
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. mate — a partner
  15. rock — a stone
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. staff — employees
  18. root — of a word
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. staff — a stick
  23. mate — a friend
  24. sharp — clever

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