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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. mark — a grade
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. root — of a word
  6. rock — music
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rash — hasty
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. deal — to handle
  11. mark — a trace
  12. root — of a plant
  13. lie — to recline
  14. rash — a series
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rock — a stone
  20. root — the cause
  21. stem — to come from
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. temple — a place of worship

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