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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. date — the fruit
  4. wax — to grow
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. fine — high quality
  7. chair — a leader
  8. can — a tin
  9. dip — to sink
  10. can — to be able to
  11. root — of a word
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. fine — all right
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. root — of a plant
  21. branch — a division
  22. can — a tin
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. branch — of a tree

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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