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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. root — of a plant
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. root — of a word
  6. face — to point toward
  7. branch — a division
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. face — part of the head
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. ball — a dance
  21. root — the cause
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. ball — a great time
  24. ruler — a monarch

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