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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. pit — in a race
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. root — of a plant
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. pit — a hole
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. toast — bread
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. content — the amount
  13. root — the cause
  14. content — happy
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. plane — a tool
  17. date — the fruit
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. root — of a word
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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