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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. present — a gift
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. root — the cause
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. stock — goods
  9. pop — soda
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. charge — a price
  12. present — there
  13. present — the time now
  14. root — of a word
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. charge — in control
  17. stock — shares
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. pop — to visit
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. charge — electricity
  23. dip — to sink
  24. pop — music

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