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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. fine — high quality
  3. roll — a list
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. current — electric
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. spell — letters
  9. spell — magic
  10. root — of a word
  11. stem — to come from
  12. lean — to bend
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. current — happening now
  16. current — of water
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. roll — a cake
  19. spell — a short time
  20. lean — thin
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. fine — all right
  23. root — the cause
  24. stem — a stem cell

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