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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. cue — a signal
  5. drill — army training
  6. root — the cause
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. wax — to grow
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. cue — a hint
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. root — of a plant
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. bound — tied together
  17. cue — for pool
  18. bound — obliged
  19. drill — the tool
  20. bound — certain
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. drill — a practice
  24. root — of a word

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