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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. root — the cause
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. cap — a lid
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. root — of a plant
  7. chip — to eat
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. sharp — clever
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. root — of a word
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. cap — a hat
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. chip — for betting
  21. toast — bread
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. cap — of ice

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