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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 ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. root — the cause
  3. root — of a word
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. ball — a dance
  7. dip — to sink
  8. lie — to recline
  9. staff — employees
  10. staff — a stick
  11. perch — the fish
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. can — to be able to
  14. ball — a great time
  15. can — a tin
  16. staff — employees
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. can — a tin
  24. ball — a round shape

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