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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. root — of a plant
  3. scale — in music
  4. wound — an injury
  5. drill — army training
  6. root — the cause
  7. board — to get on
  8. can — to be able to
  9. present — a gift
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. present — there
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. scale — size or range
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. can — a tin
  16. drill — a practice
  17. drill — the tool
  18. board — a committee
  19. wax — to grow
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. root — of a word
  22. can — a tin
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. wound — an injury

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