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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. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. drill — army training
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. root — the cause
  5. drill — a practice
  6. lean — to bend
  7. root — of a plant
  8. wax — to grow
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. prune — to trim
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. march — the month
  15. march — music
  16. drill — the tool
  17. suit — clothes
  18. suit — in cards
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. suit — to fit
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. lean — thin
  23. march — the month
  24. prune — to trim

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