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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 116 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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. stem — to come from
  4. root — the cause
  5. perch — the fish
  6. land — a country
  7. bass — low music
  8. rest — a break
  9. root — of a word
  10. land — to come down
  11. bass — the fish
  12. rest — what's left
  13. rock — music
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. present — there
  16. land — ground
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. rest — what's left
  20. rock — a stone
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. present — a gift
  24. present — the time now

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