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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. foot — a measure
  4. ground — the earth
  5. cue — for pool
  6. root — of a plant
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. staff — employees
  9. rash — a series
  10. mate — a partner
  11. rash — hasty
  12. can — to be able to
  13. cue — a hint
  14. ground — crushed
  15. mate — a friend
  16. can — a tin
  17. mate — to breed
  18. staff — a stick
  19. can — a tin
  20. ground — a position
  21. cue — a signal
  22. staff — employees
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. root — of a word

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