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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 120 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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. plane — a tool
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. root — of a plant
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. bound — tied together
  7. chip — for betting
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. scale — size or range
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. root — of a word
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. chip — to eat
  19. bound — obliged
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. root — the cause
  24. bound — certain

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