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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. staff — employees
  3. staff — employees
  4. can — to be able to
  5. root — the cause
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. court — of a king
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. staff — a stick
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. root — of a plant
  13. foot — a measure
  14. root — of a word
  15. bound — certain
  16. court — of law
  17. bound — obliged
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. can — a tin
  23. bound — tied together
  24. court — for sport

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