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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: press · spell · roll · stem · bear · safe · pitch · perch

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. perch — the fish
  3. roll — a list
  4. press — newspapers
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. press — to push
  9. bear — the animal
  10. spell — letters
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. spell — magic
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. pitch — completely
  21. press — a publisher
  22. spell — a short time
  23. roll — a cake
  24. safe — out of danger

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