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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. firm — a company
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. firm — steady
  6. sharp — clever
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. game — wild animals
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. game — a match
  16. firm — decided
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. root — the cause
  19. rush — hurry
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. root — of a word
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. ruler — for measuring

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