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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
468
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: press · date · stem · pass · bowl · key · safe · tube

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. key — in music
  3. tube — a container
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. date — the fruit
  8. key — for a lock
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. press — to push
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. press — a publisher
  13. key — the most important part
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. press — newspapers
  18. tube — the underground
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. stem — to come from
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. stem — a stem cell

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