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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: prune · safe · root · foot · temple · bowl · rash · wake

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. wake — a trail
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. rash — a series
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. prune — to trim
  9. prune — to trim
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. root — the cause
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. root — of a plant
  17. foot — a measure
  18. rash — hasty
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. safe — a strongbox

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