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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. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. net — after costs
  6. root — the cause
  7. mark — a grade
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. root — of a plant
  10. craft — boats
  11. mate — a friend
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. root — of a word
  14. bank — for money
  15. craft — a skill
  16. net — in sport
  17. mate — to breed
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bank — of a river
  20. net — for catching
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bank — for money
  24. safe — out of danger

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