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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 ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. wake — a trail
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. game — wild animals
  5. deal — to handle
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. present — the time now
  9. present — a gift
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. root — of a plant
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. game — a match
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. lie — to recline
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. bulb — for light
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. present — there
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. root — the cause

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