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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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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: arm · root · bulb · face · bore · jam · safe · stand

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. bulb — for light
  3. face — part of the head
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. root — of a plant
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. root — of a word
  8. face — to point toward
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. root — the cause
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. bore — to tire
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bore — to drill
  24. arm — a part of something

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