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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: rest · safe · roll · scale · suit · hide · saw · root

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. scale — size or range
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. root — of a plant
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. root — the cause
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. rest — what's left
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. saw — the tool
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. roll — a list
  14. suit — clothes
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. root — of a word
  18. roll — a cake
  19. suit — in cards
  20. scale — in music
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rest — a break
  24. saw — the tool

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