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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. suit — to fit
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. field — farmland
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. chair — a leader
  10. root — of a word
  11. chip — for betting
  12. pass — a permit
  13. root — of a plant
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. field — for sport
  17. suit — in cards
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. suit — clothes
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. field — a subject
  22. chip — to eat
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. pitcher — a jug

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