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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. cue — for pool
  3. root — of a plant
  4. cue — a hint
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. ground — the earth
  7. tube — the underground
  8. tube — a container
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. root — of a word
  12. ground — a position
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. season — in sport
  15. cue — a signal
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. season — of the year
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. ground — crushed
  20. dip — to sink
  21. sharp — clever
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. fan — a supporter

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