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

Word bank: cell · root · racket · perch · current · safe · hide · lean

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. cell — a phone
  3. current — happening now
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. cell — in biology
  10. perch — the fish
  11. root — of a plant
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. lean — thin
  15. lean — to bend
  16. current — of water
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. current — electric
  20. root — of a word
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. root — the cause
  24. racket — for tennis

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