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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 116 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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. scale — size or range
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. root — of a plant
  5. race — a contest
  6. root — the cause
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. chip — for betting
  10. file — a document
  11. can — to be able to
  12. scale — in music
  13. race — humankind
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. can — a tin
  16. file — a tool
  17. mark — a grade
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. race — the arms race
  20. chip — to eat
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. file — a line of people
  23. mark — a trace
  24. can — a tin

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