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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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. root — of a plant
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. wake — a trail
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. pitch — completely
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ground — a position
  11. ground — crushed
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. root — of a word
  15. stock — shares
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. root — the cause
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. stock — goods
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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