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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'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. root — the cause
  3. net — in sport
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. root — of a plant
  6. season — of the year
  7. net — after costs
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. rock — a stone
  10. root — of a word
  11. pass — a permit
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. season — in sport
  16. net — for catching
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. rock — music
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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