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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 coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. root — the cause
  4. mug — a cup
  5. mark — a trace
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. mug — a face
  11. can — a tin
  12. root — of a plant
  13. root — of a word
  14. perch — the fish
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. swing — to play on
  17. deal — to handle
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mug — to rob
  24. swing — 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