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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. root — of a plant
  3. spell — magic
  4. scale — size or range
  5. rash — hasty
  6. bank — for money
  7. root — the cause
  8. spell — letters
  9. root — of a word
  10. cue — a signal
  11. current — of water
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. bank — of a river
  14. cue — a hint
  15. scale — in music
  16. rash — a series
  17. spell — a short time
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. bear — the animal
  21. current — electric
  22. cue — for pool
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. bank — for money

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