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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 116 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. That was a fun ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. firm — decided
  4. mate — a partner
  5. root — the cause
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. firm — a company
  10. mark — a trace
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stem — to come from
  13. mate — to breed
  14. mark — a grade
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. firm — steady
  17. game — wild animals
  18. root — of a word
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. mate — a friend
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. root — of a plant
  23. plane — a tool
  24. mark — to pay attention

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