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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. press — a publisher
  3. root — of a word
  4. press — newspapers
  5. hand — in cards
  6. content — happy
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. degree — from a university
  9. rush — hurry
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. root — of a plant
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. content — the amount
  14. can — to be able to
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. can — a tin
  17. degree — temperature
  18. can — a tin
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. degree — an amount
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. hand — help
  24. press — to push

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