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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 kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. deal — to handle
  3. root — of a plant
  4. bear — the animal
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. root — the cause
  8. key — in music
  9. key — for a lock
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. bound — certain
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bound — obliged
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. root — of a word
  17. scale — in music
  18. bound — tied together
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. key — the most important part
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. scale — size or range

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