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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. suit — to fit
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. root — the cause
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. root — of a word
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. suit — in cards
  11. rush — hurry
  12. mug — to rob
  13. suit — clothes
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. mug — a cup
  16. can — to be able to
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. rash — hasty
  19. mug — a face
  20. stand — to bear
  21. root — of a plant
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. can — a tin
  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