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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 120 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. staff — employees
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. staff — a stick
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. current — of water
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. fork — in a road
  11. current — happening now
  12. root — of a word
  13. bear — the animal
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. root — the cause
  16. staff — employees
  17. current — electric
  18. bear — the animal

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