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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. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. present — a gift
  4. root — of a plant
  5. squash — the sport
  6. squash — to crush
  7. roll — a list
  8. press — to push
  9. press — a publisher
  10. mug — a face
  11. roll — a cake
  12. firm — a company
  13. mug — a cup
  14. present — the time now
  15. firm — steady
  16. mark — a grade
  17. mug — to rob
  18. press — newspapers
  19. mark — a trace
  20. root — the cause
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. firm — decided
  24. root — of a word

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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