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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. stock — goods
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. root — of a word
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. toast — bread
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. stock — shares
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. root — of a plant
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bank — for money
  13. land — ground
  14. bank — for money
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. land — a country
  17. bank — of a river
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. land — to come down
  24. root — the cause

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