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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. That was a fun ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. can — a tin
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — in cards
  5. root — of a plant
  6. pass — a permit
  7. bank — for money
  8. suit — clothes
  9. kick — in football
  10. root — the cause
  11. game — wild animals
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. ground — the earth
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. root — of a word
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. ground — crushed
  18. ground — a position
  19. can — to be able to
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. bank — for money
  22. can — a tin
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. bank — of a river

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