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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. pit — in a race
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. chip — for betting
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. can — a tin
  7. root — of a plant
  8. can — to be able to
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. game — wild animals
  11. bore — to drill
  12. pit — a hole
  13. ball — a dance
  14. mug — a face
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. ball — a great time
  17. mug — a cup
  18. chip — to eat
  19. game — a match
  20. can — a tin
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. root — the cause
  23. mug — to rob
  24. bore — to tire

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