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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. bear — the animal
  3. root — of a plant
  4. stock — shares
  5. stock — goods
  6. foot — a measure
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. bear — the animal
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. wound — an injury
  14. root — of a word
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. root — the cause
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. wake — a trail
  20. wound — an injury
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. can — a tin
  24. bear — to put up with

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