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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 120 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 polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. cap — a lid
  3. cue — a hint
  4. track — to keep track
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. root — of a plant
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. track — a path
  9. root — the cause
  10. cue — a signal
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cue — for pool
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. snap — to click
  18. rock — a stone
  19. track — a song
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. root — of a word
  23. cap — a hat
  24. rock — music

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