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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. root — of a plant
  4. rash — a series
  5. track — a song
  6. bear — the animal
  7. charge — a price
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. sharp — clever
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. bear — the animal
  12. root — the cause
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. root — of a word
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. snap — to click
  18. rash — hasty
  19. lie — to recline
  20. charge — in control
  21. track — a path
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. charge — electricity
  24. rash — on the skin

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