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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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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: foot · root · game · tear · safe · track · vault · roll

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. tear — to rip
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. vault — a safe
  8. root — of a plant
  9. roll — a list
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. root — of a word
  13. game — a match
  14. foot — a measure
  15. track — to keep track
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. game — wild animals
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. tear — from crying
  21. root — the cause
  22. track — a path
  23. roll — a cake
  24. tear — from crying

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