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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 chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. march — the month
  3. craft — boats
  4. root — of a word
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. rule — government
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. mark — a trace
  9. mark — a grade
  10. march — the month
  11. key — for a lock
  12. root — of a plant
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. craft — a skill
  16. key — in music
  17. march — music
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. wake — a trail
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. root — the cause
  23. key — the most important part
  24. rule — a law

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