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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 refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. root — of a word
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. current — happening now
  5. mine — for digging
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. foot — a measure
  9. current — electric
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. current — of water
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. root — the cause
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. tube — the underground
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. tube — a container
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. root — of a plant
  22. mug — a face
  23. mug — to rob
  24. fan — a supporter

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