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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 hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. cue — a signal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. spring — the season
  5. squash — to crush
  6. spring — a coil
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. squash — the sport
  9. root — the cause
  10. rock — music
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. root — of a word
  14. snap — to click
  15. bank — of a river
  16. cue — a hint
  17. root — of a plant
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. cue — for pool
  21. bank — for money
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. bank — for money
  24. rock — a stone

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