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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 116 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 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. suit — clothes
  3. mug — a face
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. root — the cause
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bass — low music
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. rest — a break
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. root — of a plant
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. bass — the fish
  16. mug — to rob
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. mug — a cup
  19. suit — to fit
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. suit — in cards
  22. rest — what's left
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. rest — what's left

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