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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. stock — shares
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. root — of a word
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. stock — goods
  16. date — the fruit
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. pound — a weight
  24. root — of a plant

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