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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. root — of a plant
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. cue — for pool
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. bass — the fish
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. board — to get on
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. root — of a word
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. board — a committee
  17. row — a line
  18. cue — a signal
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. cue — a hint
  21. row — to paddle
  22. mark — a grade
  23. perch — the fish
  24. bass — low music

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