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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. bank — for money
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. wound — an injury
  6. bank — of a river
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. root — the cause
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. chip — to eat
  12. bank — for money
  13. wound — an injury
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. track — a path
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. can — to be able to
  18. track — to keep track
  19. can — a tin
  20. track — a song
  21. can — a tin
  22. root — of a word
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. chip — for betting

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