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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 116 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: rush · staff · pop · safe · root · pit · pass · game

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. pit — a hole
  4. pass — a permit
  5. staff — employees
  6. root — of a word
  7. staff — a stick
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. game — wild animals
  10. game — a match
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. rush — hurry
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. staff — employees
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pop — soda
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. root — the cause
  20. pit — in a race
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pop — to visit
  23. root — of a plant
  24. rush — a thrill

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