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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 girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. foot — a measure
  3. stand — to bear
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. rash — hasty
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. root — of a plant
  9. suit — to fit
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. suit — in cards
  12. root — the cause
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. suit — clothes
  18. rash — a series
  19. row — to paddle
  20. root — of a word
  21. saw — the tool
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rash — on the skin

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