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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 120 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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. track — a song
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. saw — the tool
  6. rock — music
  7. root — of a word
  8. rock — a stone
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. game — a match
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. chair — a leader
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. root — of a plant
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. saw — the tool
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. game — wild animals
  21. track — a path
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. root — the cause
  24. track — to keep track

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