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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. root — of a word
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. roll — a list
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. root — of a plant
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. press — newspapers
  14. press — a publisher
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bound — certain
  17. press — to push
  18. sharp — clever
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. plane — a tool
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. bound — obliged
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. roll — a cake

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