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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. root — the cause
  6. foot — a measure
  7. can — to be able to
  8. degree — from a university
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. root — of a word
  11. rash — hasty
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. root — of a plant
  15. can — a tin
  16. fine — all right
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. degree — an amount
  20. rash — a series
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. can — a tin
  23. degree — temperature
  24. fine — high quality

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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