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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. root — of a word
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. current — of water
  5. current — happening now
  6. net — in sport
  7. key — for a lock
  8. root — the cause
  9. mug — a cup
  10. net — for catching
  11. stand — to bear
  12. perch — the fish
  13. root — of a plant
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. net — after costs
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. key — the most important part
  18. current — electric
  19. key — in music
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. mug — a face
  24. perch — for a bird

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