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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. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  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. pound — to hit hard
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. root — of a word
  5. wake — a trail
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. chair — a leader
  9. sharp — clever
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. lie — to recline
  14. mug — a cup
  15. root — of a plant
  16. mug — to rob
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. pound — a weight
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. mug — a face
  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