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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bass — low music
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. rock — music
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. rock — a stone
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. snap — to click
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. root — of a plant
  16. root — the cause
  17. bass — the fish
  18. fan — a supporter

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