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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 116 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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. fine — high quality
  3. root — the cause
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. rock — a stone
  6. mate — a friend
  7. mate — a partner
  8. fine — all right
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. mate — to breed
  13. lie — to recline
  14. net — in sport
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. rock — music
  19. rash — a series
  20. root — of a word
  21. net — for catching
  22. net — after costs
  23. root — of a plant
  24. rash — hasty

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