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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 a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. net — for catching
  5. face — to point toward
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. root — the cause
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. face — part of the head
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. ball — a dance
  14. net — in sport
  15. swing — to play on
  16. swing — music
  17. wake — a trail
  18. swing — in golf
  19. ball — a great time
  20. root — of a word
  21. net — after costs
  22. face — to confront
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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