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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. root — of a plant
  4. lean — thin
  5. mark — a trace
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. bass — the fish
  8. root — the cause
  9. bass — low music
  10. stock — goods
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lean — to bend
  13. root — of a word
  14. lie — to recline
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. ball — a dance
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mark — a grade
  20. stock — shares
  21. ball — a great time
  22. spell — letters
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. spell — magic

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