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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 116 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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. court — of law
  3. court — for sport
  4. root — the cause
  5. root — of a plant
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. bound — tied together
  8. mate — a partner
  9. face — to point toward
  10. suit — in cards
  11. mate — to breed
  12. face — part of the head
  13. suit — to fit
  14. mate — a friend
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. dip — to sink
  17. court — of a king
  18. bound — obliged
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. bound — certain
  22. face — to confront
  23. chair — a leader
  24. root — of a word

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