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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 had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. stand — to bear
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. root — of a word
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. spell — letters
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. lie — to recline
  12. spell — magic
  13. spell — a short time
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. root — the cause
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. row — a line
  22. branch — a division
  23. root — of a plant
  24. plane — a tool

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