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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: season · safe · ruler · face · straw · nail · root · squash

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. season — in sport
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. squash — to crush
  13. root — the cause
  14. root — of a plant
  15. season — of the year
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. face — to point toward
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. face — to confront
  21. face — part of the head
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. squash — the sport
  24. ruler — for measuring

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