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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  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. trunk — of a tree
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. season — of the year
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. root — of a word
  7. root — the cause
  8. field — farmland
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. court — of a king
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. field — for sport
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. season — in sport
  17. field — a subject
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. court — of law
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. court — for sport
  23. safe — out of danger
  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