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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 124 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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. firm — steady
  3. tube — the underground
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. firm — a company
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. root — of a plant
  15. stand — to bear
  16. tube — a container
  17. root — of a word
  18. pass — a permit
  19. season — of the year
  20. firm — decided
  21. toast — bread
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. season — in sport
  24. jam — a tight spot

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