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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. swing — to play on
  3. saw — the tool
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. saw — the tool
  6. root — of a plant
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. charge — in control
  10. root — of a word
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. charge — a price
  15. root — the cause
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. charge — electricity
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. swing — music
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. swing — in golf
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. arm — part of the body

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