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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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. march — music
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. root — of a plant
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. foot — a measure
  11. lie — to recline
  12. root — of a word
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. root — the cause
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. toast — bread
  22. march — the month
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. march — the month

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