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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 old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. root — the cause
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. net — in sport
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. net — for catching
  9. pitch — completely
  10. toast — bread
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. staff — employees
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. root — of a word
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. hand — help
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. net — after costs
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. hand — in cards
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. staff — employees
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. root — of a plant

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