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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 girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. root — of a plant
  3. rest — what's left
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rest — what's left
  8. suit — clothes
  9. row — to paddle
  10. swing — music
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. foot — a measure
  14. root — the cause
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. rest — a break
  18. swing — to play on
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. suit — in cards
  21. suit — to fit
  22. root — of a word
  23. swing — in golf
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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