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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. march — music
  3. fine — high quality
  4. game — a match
  5. plane — a tool
  6. can — a tin
  7. root — of a plant
  8. face — part of the head
  9. fine — all right
  10. game — wild animals
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — to be able to
  14. wake — a trail
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. face — to confront
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. march — the month
  19. root — of a word
  20. march — the month
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. face — to point toward
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. game — a kind of play

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