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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 120 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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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: fall · row · track · lash · root · safe · scale · coach

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. fall — to drop
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. track — a path
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. root — the cause
  8. row — to paddle
  9. track — to keep track
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. scale — in music
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. root — of a word
  14. track — a song
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fall — to drop
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. fall — the season
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. scale — size or range
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. root — of a plant

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