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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 120 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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. root — of a word
  5. field — for sport
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. spring — a coil
  8. foot — a measure
  9. lie — to recline
  10. bank — of a river
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. field — a subject
  14. spring — of water
  15. bank — for money
  16. field — farmland
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. root — the cause
  20. bank — for money
  21. spring — the season
  22. stock — shares
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. stock — goods

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