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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 116 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 kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. root — the cause
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. root — of a plant
  5. face — part of the head
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. scale — size or range
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. wake — a trail
  12. face — to confront
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. scale — in music
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. can — a tin
  17. face — to point toward
  18. root — of a word
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. can — a tin
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. can — to be able to

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