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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: bay · wound · mouse · root · safe · roll · chair · wake

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. root — of a word
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. root — the cause
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. root — of a plant
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wound — an injury
  16. wound — an injury
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. chair — a leader
  20. roll — a cake
  21. wake — a trail
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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