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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 120 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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  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. squash — the vegetable
  2. lie — to recline
  3. court — for sport
  4. root — of a plant
  5. mate — to breed
  6. current — of water
  7. root — of a word
  8. court — of a king
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. mate — a friend
  11. court — of law
  12. squash — to crush
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. squash — the sport
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. current — electric
  18. root — the cause
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. mate — a partner
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. current — happening now
  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