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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 116 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. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. vault — a safe
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. lean — to bend
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. lean — thin
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. root — the cause
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. prune — to trim
  19. perch — the fish
  20. saw — the tool
  21. root — of a plant
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. prune — to trim
  24. saw — the tool

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