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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 ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. toast — bread
  3. bat — the animal
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. deal — to handle
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. bear — the animal
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. firm — steady
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. firm — decided
  13. ball — a dance
  14. root — the cause
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. bear — the animal
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. ball — a great time
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. board — a committee
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. firm — a company
  23. board — to get on
  24. root — of a word

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