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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: safe · bowl · hide · rock · lash · trunk · root · season

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. rock — music
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. root — of a word
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. root — of a plant
  8. rock — a stone
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. season — in sport
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. season — of the year
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. root — the cause
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. rock — to move gently

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