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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. root — of a word
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. mate — to breed
  6. scale — in music
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. stock — goods
  9. mate — a partner
  10. root — the cause
  11. dip — to sink
  12. board — a committee
  13. scale — size or range
  14. board — to get on
  15. root — of a plant
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. stock — shares
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. mate — a friend

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