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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. root — of a plant
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. bore — to drill
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. stem — to come from
  9. suit — in cards
  10. current — electric
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. suit — to fit
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. root — of a word
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. current — happening now
  19. bore — to tire
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. root — the cause
  22. suit — clothes
  23. date — the fruit
  24. stem — of a plant

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