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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. staff — employees
  4. root — the cause
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bulb — for light
  8. shower — rain
  9. root — of a word
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. staff — employees
  13. bulb — for light
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. shower — to wash
  18. root — of a plant
  19. spell — letters
  20. rock — a stone
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. spell — magic
  23. staff — a stick
  24. spell — a short time

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