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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. saw — the tool
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. rash — a series
  6. root — of a plant
  7. rash — hasty
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. march — music
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. march — the month
  15. file — a document
  16. root — of a word
  17. date — the fruit
  18. file — a tool
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. file — a line of people
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. march — the month
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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