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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: cue · pass · roll · bay · plane · rash · safe · stem

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. roll — a cake
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. cue — for pool
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. rash — hasty
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. stem — to come from
  14. cue — a hint
  15. rash — a series
  16. cue — a signal
  17. plane — a tool
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. pass — a permit
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. roll — a list

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