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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  24. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. degree — from a university
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. root — of a word
  6. press — a publisher
  7. press — newspapers
  8. press — to push
  9. firm — steady
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. root — of a plant
  13. root — the cause
  14. firm — a company
  15. suit — clothes
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. bear — the animal
  18. suit — in cards
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. suit — to fit
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. firm — decided
  23. degree — temperature
  24. degree — an amount

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