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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 ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. pit — in a race
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. ball — a great time
  5. pit — a hole
  6. can — to be able to
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. spell — a short time
  10. root — the cause
  11. root — of a word
  12. chip — for betting
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. spell — magic
  16. ball — a dance
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. spell — letters
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. can — a tin
  22. chip — to eat
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. can — a tin

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