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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: root · band · wake · safe · press · nail · bound · fan

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. root — the cause
  5. press — newspapers
  6. root — of a word
  7. wake — a trail
  8. bound — certain
  9. press — a publisher
  10. press — to push
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bound — obliged
  14. root — of a plant
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. band — a ring
  17. band — a music group
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bound — tied together
  24. wake — before a funeral

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