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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. ball — a dance
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. track — a path
  6. root — the cause
  7. foot — a measure
  8. root — of a plant
  9. firm — a company
  10. bulb — for light
  11. roll — a list
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. track — a song
  14. track — to keep track
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. root — of a word
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. firm — steady
  20. bulb — for light
  21. roll — a cake
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. firm — decided
  24. ball — a great time

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