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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  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. prune — the fruit
  2. race — the arms race
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. root — the cause
  5. prune — to trim
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. sharp — clever
  9. prune — to trim
  10. race — humankind
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. board — to get on
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. board — a committee
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. ground — a position
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. ground — crushed
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. root — of a word
  22. ground — the earth
  23. race — a contest
  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