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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. root — of a plant
  3. current — happening now
  4. bank — for money
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. bank — of a river
  7. land — ground
  8. root — the cause
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. current — of water
  11. mine — for digging
  12. root — of a word
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. board — a committee
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. land — a country
  18. bank — for money
  19. current — electric
  20. land — to come down
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. board — to get on
  24. bowl — a dish

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