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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. saw — the tool
  5. rock — music
  6. pit — in a race
  7. mark — a trace
  8. root — the cause
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. foot — a measure
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. pit — a hole
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. root — of a word
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. saw — the tool
  22. root — of a plant
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rock — a stone

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