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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 would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. firm — a company
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. root — of a word
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. rock — a stone
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. rock — music
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. root — the cause
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. root — of a plant
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. firm — steady
  16. fork — in a road
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. firm — decided
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. toast — bread
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rush — hurry

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