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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. rash — hasty
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. pass — a permit
  6. root — of a plant
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. bound — obliged
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. toast — bread
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. root — the cause
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. bound — certain
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. wake — a trail
  22. bound — tied together
  23. safe — out of danger
  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