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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The water is too ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. cold — the Cold War
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. board — a committee
  6. root — the cause
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. board — to get on
  9. staff — a stick
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. staff — employees
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. staff — employees
  15. root — of a plant
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cold — not warm
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. cold — an illness
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. root — of a word

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