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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 was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. root — the cause
  5. squash — the sport
  6. suit — in cards
  7. suit — to fit
  8. foot — a measure
  9. root — of a word
  10. plane — a tool
  11. rush — hurry
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. root — of a plant
  14. suit — clothes
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. ball — a dance
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. squash — to crush
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. rush — to hurry

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