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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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at 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. pitcher — a jug
  2. root — of a plant
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. pop — to visit
  5. pop — soda
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. root — the cause
  10. deal — to handle
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. bore — to tire
  14. bore — to drill
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. roll — a list
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. pop — music
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. root — of a word
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  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