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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. root — the cause
  3. root — of a word
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cue — for pool
  6. face — to point toward
  7. cue — a signal
  8. deal — to handle
  9. game — a match
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. rock — a stone
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. face — part of the head
  16. rock — music
  17. game — wild animals
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. root — of a plant
  24. face — to confront

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