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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.

Make a worksheet

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: rush · root · game · rest · safe · toast · mine · bulb

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. root — of a plant
  3. rest — a break
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. mine — for digging
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. bulb — for light
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. game — a match
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. rush — hurry
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rest — what's left
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. rest — what's left
  18. root — the cause
  19. toast — bread
  20. root — of a word
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. game — wild animals
  24. rush — a thrill

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