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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. root — of a plant
  3. suit — clothes
  4. root — of a word
  5. suit — in cards
  6. root — the cause
  7. cap — a hat
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. land — to come down
  12. rash — hasty
  13. cap — of ice
  14. land — a country
  15. drill — a practice
  16. drill — the tool
  17. lie — to recline
  18. rash — a series
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. land — ground
  22. suit — to fit
  23. cap — a lid
  24. lie — an untruth

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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