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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: jam · mug · root · squash · prune · lie · row · safe

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. root — of a plant
  4. mug — a face
  5. root — the cause
  6. mug — to rob
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. squash — the sport
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. root — of a word
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. squash — to crush
  14. lie — to recline
  15. row — to paddle
  16. prune — to trim
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. row — a line
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. prune — to trim

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