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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. suit — clothes
  3. ground — a position
  4. saw — the tool
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. ground — crushed
  7. suit — in cards
  8. root — the cause
  9. suit — to fit
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. saw — the tool
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. field — for sport
  17. root — of a plant
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. root — of a word
  20. field — a subject
  21. perch — the fish
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. field — farmland
  24. pass — to succeed

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