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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. date — the fruit
  4. root — of a word
  5. current — of water
  6. current — happening now
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. squash — the sport
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. squash — to crush
  16. bear — the animal
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bear — the animal
  22. current — electric
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. root — the cause

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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