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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 116 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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  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. object — an aim
  2. rock — a stone
  3. root — of a plant
  4. hand — in cards
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. pit — in a race
  7. ground — the earth
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. ground — crushed
  10. pit — a hole
  11. ground — a position
  12. object — a thing
  13. board — to get on
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. object — to protest
  16. root — of a word
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. hand — help
  20. snap — to click
  21. root — the cause
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. board — a committee
  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