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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 help me carry this box?
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. root — of a plant
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. root — of a word
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. stand — to bear
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. saw — the tool
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. perch — the fish
  19. saw — the tool
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. lie — to recline
  24. root — the cause

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