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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: prune · bank · pit · racket · ground · rule · pass · safe

  1. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  8. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bank — for money
  4. bank — of a river
  5. pit — a hole
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. rule — to rule out
  8. rule — a law
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. bank — for money
  11. ground — a position
  12. prune — to trim
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. ground — the earth
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. pass — a permit
  20. prune — to trim
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. ground — crushed
  24. pit — in a race

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