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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. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. staff — employees
  4. ground — the earth
  5. ground — a position
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. staff — employees
  10. staff — a stick
  11. stem — to come from
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. roll — a cake
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. dip — to sink
  19. branch — a division
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. foot — a measure
  22. roll — a list
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. safe — out of danger

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