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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: bear · root · safe · toast · rash · land · mouse · press

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. root — the cause
  4. land — to come down
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. press — a publisher
  7. rash — hasty
  8. root — of a plant
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. root — of a word
  13. bear — the animal
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bear — the animal
  17. press — newspapers
  18. land — ground
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. toast — bread
  21. press — to push
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. rash — a series
  24. mouse — for a computer

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