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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. net — for catching
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. track — a path
  7. net — in sport
  8. wound — an injury
  9. bulb — for light
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. bulb — for light
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. scale — size or range
  14. root — of a word
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. wound — an injury
  17. scale — in music
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. net — after costs
  21. root — of a plant
  22. track — a song
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. track — to keep track

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