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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: pit · toast · press · root · lash · stand · stick · key

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. key — for a lock
  4. press — a publisher
  5. key — the most important part
  6. pit — in a race
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. stand — to bear
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. pit — a hole
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. press — newspapers
  13. root — the cause
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. root — of a plant
  17. root — of a word
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. toast — bread
  22. key — in music
  23. press — to push
  24. toast — the most admired

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