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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. present — the time now
  3. root — the cause
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. bound — tied together
  6. rash — hasty
  7. bound — obliged
  8. lean — to bend
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. present — a gift
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. root — of a plant
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. lean — thin
  18. root — of a word
  19. net — for catching
  20. present — there
  21. net — in sport
  22. bound — certain
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. net — after costs

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