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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. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. lean — thin
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. roll — a list
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. staff — employees
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. bear — the animal
  12. staff — a stick
  13. bark — to shout
  14. root — the cause
  15. track — a path
  16. roll — a cake
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bear — the animal
  19. lean — to bend
  20. root — of a plant
  21. track — to keep track
  22. staff — employees
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. track — a song

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