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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. root — of a word
  5. stock — goods
  6. mug — a cup
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. mug — a face
  10. root — the cause
  11. rock — music
  12. stock — shares
  13. root — of a plant
  14. squash — the sport
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. pit — in a race
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. pit — a hole
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rock — a stone
  22. squash — to crush
  23. mug — to rob
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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