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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. current — of water
  3. root — of a word
  4. root — of a plant
  5. scale — size or range
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. current — electric
  8. current — happening now
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. ball — a great time
  11. charge — electricity
  12. snap — to click
  13. charge — in control
  14. scale — in music
  15. staff — employees
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. staff — employees
  18. staff — a stick
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. ball — a dance
  22. lie — to recline
  23. root — the cause
  24. charge — a price

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