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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. root — the cause
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. fine — all right
  6. bound — obliged
  7. root — of a word
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bound — certain
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. staff — employees
  15. cap — a lid
  16. staff — employees
  17. root — of a plant
  18. cap — a hat
  19. dip — to sink
  20. staff — a stick
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. cap — of ice
  24. bound — tied together

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