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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. root — of a word
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. root — of a plant
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. foot — a measure
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. saw — the tool
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. root — the cause
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lie — to recline
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. mine — for digging
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. saw — the tool
  24. safe — out of danger

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