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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. hand — in cards
  3. suit — clothes
  4. deal — to handle
  5. root — the cause
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. stem — to come from
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. hand — help
  15. suit — in cards
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. suit — to fit
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. root — of a word
  24. root — of a plant

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