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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. root — of a word
  7. branch — a division
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rash — hasty
  10. root — of a plant
  11. sharp — clever
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. court — of law
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. suit — clothes
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. lie — to recline
  20. rash — a series
  21. court — for sport
  22. root — the cause
  23. suit — in cards
  24. court — of a king

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