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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 120 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: root · safe · cold · foot · branch · cabinet · bear · current

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The water is too ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. cold — an illness
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. root — of a plant
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. root — the cause
  10. foot — a measure
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. current — electric
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cold — the Cold War
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. branch — a division
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. cold — not warm
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — the animal
  23. current — happening now
  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