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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. root — of a plant
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. rock — a stone
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. rock — music
  10. stock — goods
  11. root — of a word
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. board — a committee
  14. root — the cause
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. mug — to rob
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. stock — shares
  22. mug — a cup
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. board — to get on

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