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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. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. root — the cause
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. root — of a word
  5. date — the fruit
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. staff — employees
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. press — newspapers
  11. staff — a stick
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. root — of a plant
  16. row — to paddle
  17. staff — employees
  18. game — a match
  19. row — a line
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. game — wild animals
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. press — to push
  24. press — a publisher

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