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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. rash — hasty
  4. root — of a plant
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. club — for dancing
  8. club — for golf
  9. club — a group
  10. rush — hurry
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. root — the cause
  15. mine — for digging
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. date — the fruit
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. root — of a word
  24. safe — a strongbox

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