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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. root — of a plant
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bank — of a river
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. root — the cause
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. shower — to wash
  10. root — of a word
  11. rock — a stone
  12. mug — a cup
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. bank — for money
  15. suit — clothes
  16. bank — for money
  17. mark — a trace
  18. suit — to fit
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. suit — in cards
  22. mark — a grade
  23. shower — rain
  24. rock — music

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