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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: net · root · wake · mark · straw · bore · safe · prune

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  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. net — for catching
  2. net — in sport
  3. root — the cause
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. net — after costs
  9. prune — to trim
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mark — a trace
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. root — of a word
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mark — a grade
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. bore — to drill
  19. bore — to tire
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. prune — to trim
  22. wake — a trail
  23. mark — to pay attention
  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