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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. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. root — the cause
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. face — to confront
  5. root — of a plant
  6. charge — electricity
  7. face — part of the head
  8. rock — music
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. saw — the tool
  12. current — happening now
  13. charge — a price
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. charge — in control
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. current — electric
  18. perch — the fish
  19. lean — thin
  20. lean — to bend
  21. current — of water
  22. face — to point toward
  23. saw — the tool
  24. rock — a stone

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