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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. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — a contest
  2. root — of a word
  3. race — the arms race
  4. bore — to tire
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. fine — high quality
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. rash — hasty
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. branch — a division
  12. race — humankind
  13. rash — a series
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. wind — moving air
  16. root — of a plant
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. wind — moving air
  19. bore — to drill
  20. root — the cause
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. fine — all right

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