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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. root — the cause
  3. root — of a word
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. current — of water
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. current — happening now
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. prune — to trim
  15. current — electric
  16. date — the fruit
  17. toast — bread
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. prune — to trim
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. root — of a plant

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