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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 116 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: firm · root · bulb · pit · wake · sharp · bass · safe

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. sharp — clever
  3. root — the cause
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. root — of a word
  6. firm — a company
  7. root — of a plant
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. bulb — for light
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. wake — a trail
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pit — a hole
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bass — the fish
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bass — low music
  19. firm — decided
  20. bulb — for light
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. pit — in a race
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. wake — before a funeral

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