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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 ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. wound — an injury
  3. fall — the season
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. mate — a partner
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. root — the cause
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. pass — a permit
  14. mate — to breed
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. mate — a friend
  17. fall — to drop
  18. wound — an injury
  19. fall — to drop
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. root — of a word
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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