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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 kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. scale — size or range
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. chip — for betting
  10. root — of a word
  11. root — of a plant
  12. chip — to eat
  13. scale — in music
  14. pass — a permit
  15. season — in sport
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. roll — a cake
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. season — of the year
  21. root — the cause
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. roll — a list

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