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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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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. prune — to trim
  4. perch — the fish
  5. net — after costs
  6. net — for catching
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. stem — to come from
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. net — in sport
  14. root — of a word
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. root — of a plant
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. wake — a trail
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. prune — to trim
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. safe — a strongbox

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