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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. can — a tin
  5. prune — to trim
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. root — of a plant
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. root — the cause
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. can — to be able to
  13. can — a tin
  14. root — of a word
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. prune — to trim
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. wound — an injury
  19. wound — an injury
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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