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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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. deal — to handle
  3. root — of a plant
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. staff — employees
  6. squash — the sport
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. root — the cause
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. ball — a dance
  15. root — of a word
  16. perch — the fish
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. ball — a great time
  21. staff — a stick
  22. stand — to bear
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. squash — to crush

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