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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 120 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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. mine — for digging
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. row — a line
  7. lie — to recline
  8. track — a song
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. staff — employees
  11. fall — the season
  12. root — of a plant
  13. fall — to drop
  14. staff — employees
  15. track — a path
  16. track — to keep track
  17. row — to paddle
  18. staff — a stick
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. fall — to drop
  23. root — of a word
  24. row — a quarrel

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