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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 a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. root — of a word
  3. land — a country
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. board — a committee
  7. board — to get on
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. land — ground
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. root — the cause
  15. stock — goods
  16. row — to paddle
  17. land — to come down
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. row — a line
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. stock — shares
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. safe — out of danger

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