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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. root — the cause
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. stand — to bear
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. root — of a plant
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. fine — high quality
  10. wax — to grow
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. root — of a word
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. fine — all right
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. wax — in the ear

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