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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. root — of a word
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. mug — a face
  5. perch — the fish
  6. field — farmland
  7. root — of a plant
  8. mug — to rob
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. field — a subject
  11. mug — a cup
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. mate — to breed
  17. root — the cause
  18. field — for sport
  19. rush — hurry
  20. chip — to eat
  21. board — to get on
  22. chip — for betting
  23. board — a committee
  24. mate — a partner

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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