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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: straw · net · mug · root · safe · sharp · lean · trunk

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. sharp — clever
  4. net — after costs
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. root — of a word
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. mug — a cup
  10. net — in sport
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. lean — thin
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. mug — to rob
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. mug — a face
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. lean — to bend
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. root — the cause
  24. net — for catching

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