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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. root — of a word
  3. race — the arms race
  4. root — of a plant
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. land — a country
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. root — the cause
  10. land — ground
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. key — in music
  14. land — to come down
  15. race — humankind
  16. rush — hurry
  17. race — a contest
  18. key — for a lock
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. key — the most important part
  23. mug — a face
  24. mug — a cup

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