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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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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. root — of a plant
  5. roll — a list
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. suit — clothes
  9. toast — bread
  10. root — of a word
  11. deal — to handle
  12. net — in sport
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. suit — to fit
  15. bat — the animal
  16. bat — in an idiom
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. root — the cause
  19. suit — in cards
  20. net — after costs
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. roll — a cake
  23. pit — in a race
  24. pit — a hole

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