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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. key — for a lock
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. pitch — completely
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. fine — all right
  7. root — of a word
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bound — obliged
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. fine — high quality
  16. bound — certain
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. key — the most important part
  19. key — in music
  20. root — of a plant
  21. stem — to come from
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. root — the cause

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