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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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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: ground · stand · root · toast · rash · bank · chip · safe

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. rash — hasty
  3. ground — the earth
  4. ground — crushed
  5. bank — for money
  6. root — of a plant
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. chip — to eat
  9. toast — bread
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. bank — for money
  12. stand — to bear
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. ground — a position
  16. bank — of a river
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rash — a series
  19. root — the cause
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. chip — for betting
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. root — of a word
  24. stand — on your feet

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