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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: land · pass · prune · key · rash · press · safe · mate

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. land — to come down
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mate — to breed
  5. prune — to trim
  6. key — in music
  7. rash — a series
  8. land — a country
  9. press — newspapers
  10. pass — a permit
  11. rash — hasty
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. mate — a partner
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. mate — a friend
  18. prune — to trim
  19. press — to push
  20. land — ground
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. key — the most important part
  23. key — for a lock
  24. safe — a strongbox

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