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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: sharp · club · safe · rush · root · tear · roll · pass

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. tear — from crying
  3. pass — a permit
  4. root — the cause
  5. roll — a list
  6. club — for dancing
  7. club — a group
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. rush — hurry
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. roll — a cake
  13. sharp — clever
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. club — for golf
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. tear — from crying
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. root — of a word
  22. root — of a plant
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. tear — to rip

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