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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 120 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 a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. current — happening now
  4. wax — to grow
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. perch — the fish
  7. current — electric
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. root — the cause
  10. rash — hasty
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rock — music
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. root — of a word
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. rash — a series
  19. pass — a permit
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. rock — a stone
  22. current — of water
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. wax — for sculpting

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