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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: fan · safe · root · mark · mate · spell · face · staff

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. mate — a partner
  3. mark — a grade
  4. staff — a stick
  5. mark — a trace
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. root — of a word
  9. root — the cause
  10. spell — letters
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. staff — employees
  14. face — to point toward
  15. spell — magic
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. face — part of the head
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. spell — a short time
  20. staff — employees
  21. mate — a friend
  22. mate — to breed
  23. face — to confront
  24. safe — out of danger

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