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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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. face — to confront
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. root — of a plant
  5. face — to point toward
  6. season — of the year
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. object — to protest
  10. pop — soda
  11. object — a thing
  12. press — to push
  13. root — the cause
  14. pass — a permit
  15. season — in sport
  16. pop — music
  17. craft — a skill
  18. root — of a word
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. press — newspapers
  21. face — part of the head
  22. press — a publisher
  23. object — an aim
  24. craft — boats

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