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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. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. root — of a word
  4. mate — to breed
  5. cue — a signal
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mug — a cup
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. root — the cause
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. mate — a partner
  13. cue — for pool
  14. degree — temperature
  15. mate — a friend
  16. root — of a plant
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. mine — for digging
  20. mug — a face
  21. degree — an amount
  22. cue — a hint
  23. degree — from a university
  24. wave — with your hand

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