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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. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. bound — certain
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bass — the fish
  5. root — of a plant
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. press — to push
  8. press — newspapers
  9. bound — obliged
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. root — the cause
  12. press — a publisher
  13. ball — a dance
  14. board — to get on
  15. bass — low music
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. board — a committee
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. ball — a great time
  24. stem — to come from

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