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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 ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. track — to keep track
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. track — a path
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. pass — a permit
  12. root — of a word
  13. bulb — for light
  14. fall — to drop
  15. fall — to drop
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. root — the cause
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. track — a song
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. fall — the season

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