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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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. root — of a plant
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. lie — to recline
  7. rash — a series
  8. stock — shares
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. stock — goods
  11. rash — hasty
  12. pound — to hit hard
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. sharp — clever
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. root — of a word
  23. pound — a weight
  24. root — the cause

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