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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. can — a tin
  4. root — of a word
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. rash — a series
  12. root — of a plant
  13. pop — music
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. pop — to visit
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. pop — soda
  19. rash — hasty
  20. sharp — clever
  21. branch — a division
  22. foot — a measure
  23. root — the cause
  24. sharp — exactly

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