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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. dip — to sink
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. root — of a plant
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. firm — decided
  8. season — of the year
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. root — of a word
  11. roll — a list
  12. rush — hurry
  13. roll — a cake
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. root — the cause
  17. season — in sport
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. firm — steady
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. bowl — a dish

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