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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 124 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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. root — the cause
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. cell — a phone
  6. pit — in a race
  7. wax — to grow
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. root — of a word
  14. pit — a hole
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cell — in biology
  18. deal — to handle
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. root — of a plant
  24. wax — for sculpting

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