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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: root · racket · pitcher · wake · march · can · roll · safe

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. march — music
  3. root — the cause
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. root — of a plant
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. wake — a trail
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. march — the month
  17. can — to be able to
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. roll — a list
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. root — of a word
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. roll — a cake

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