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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. scale — in music
  3. lie — to recline
  4. root — the cause
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. root — of a plant
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — hurry
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. scale — size or range
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. wax — to grow
  20. stand — to bear
  21. root — of a word
  22. rash — a series
  23. branch — a division
  24. scale — for weighing

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