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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  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. rock — to move gently
  2. root — the cause
  3. last — finally
  4. last — to go on
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. cue — a signal
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. sharp — clever
  10. cue — a hint
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. rock — a stone
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. rock — music
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. root — of a word
  22. last — final
  23. cue — for pool
  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