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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. root — of a plant
  3. bound — certain
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. rest — a break
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. root — of a word
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. stand — to bear
  12. bear — the animal
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bound — obliged
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bound — tied together
  19. root — the cause
  20. ball — a dance
  21. bear — the animal
  22. prune — to trim
  23. ball — a great time
  24. rest — what's left

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