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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. root — the cause
  5. tube — a container
  6. board — a committee
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. mark — a grade
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. root — of a plant
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. mark — a trace
  16. tube — the underground
  17. root — of a word
  18. lean — thin
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. board — to get on

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