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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: press · track · mate · patient · rush · safe · bulb · pass

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. track — a song
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. press — newspapers
  7. rush — hurry
  8. mate — a partner
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. track — a path
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. pass — a permit
  15. mate — to breed
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. press — to push
  19. bulb — for light
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. mate — a friend
  23. track — to keep track
  24. press — a publisher

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