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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 120 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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. ground — crushed
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. object — a thing
  6. ground — a position
  7. object — to protest
  8. root — the cause
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. root — of a word
  11. ground — the earth
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. root — of a plant
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — a cup
  18. wake — a trail
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. object — an aim
  21. pit — a hole
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. mug — to rob
  24. fan — a supporter

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