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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've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bear — the animal
  5. root — of a word
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. root — of a plant
  10. foot — a measure
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. spell — magic
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. wake — a trail
  15. root — the cause
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. bear — the animal
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. spell — letters
  24. perch — the fish

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