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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 120 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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. dip — to sink
  3. stock — shares
  4. mate — a friend
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. rest — a break
  8. root — of a plant
  9. net — for catching
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. net — after costs
  12. stock — goods
  13. saw — the tool
  14. net — in sport
  15. root — of a word
  16. board — to get on
  17. saw — the tool
  18. rest — what's left
  19. board — a committee
  20. rest — what's left
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. mate — to breed
  23. mate — a partner
  24. board — a flat piece

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