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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: stand · mouse · rash · safe · rush · root · pound · pitch

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. rash — a series
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. pitch — completely
  6. stand — to bear
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. root — the cause
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. rush — hurry
  19. pound — a weight
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. root — of a word
  24. root — of a plant

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