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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. root — the cause
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. season — of the year
  6. root — of a word
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. saw — the tool
  9. root — of a plant
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. saw — the tool
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. net — after costs
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. season — in sport
  18. plane — a tool
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. net — for catching

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