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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.

Make a worksheet

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: track · fan · root · stand · spring · present · lash · safe

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. present — a gift
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. root — the cause
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. present — the time now
  8. spring — a coil
  9. present — there
  10. stand — to bear
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. spring — the season
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. track — a song
  16. root — of a plant
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. track — a path
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. spring — of water
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. root — of a word

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