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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: fine · wax · arm · net · hide · ruler · root · safe

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. net — for catching
  3. root — of a word
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. fine — high quality
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. net — after costs
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. net — in sport
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. fine — all right
  19. root — of a plant
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. wax — to grow
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. root — the cause

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