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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. can — a tin
  3. rash — hasty
  4. fine — all right
  5. mug — to rob
  6. can — to be able to
  7. row — to paddle
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. mug — a cup
  10. can — a tin
  11. roll — a cake
  12. tube — the underground
  13. root — of a plant
  14. tube — a container
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. row — a line
  17. root — of a word
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. roll — a list
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. mug — a face
  23. rash — a series
  24. fine — high quality

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