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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. can — a tin
  3. root — of a plant
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. can — a tin
  6. mine — for digging
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. sharp — clever
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. root — of a word
  11. wax — to grow
  12. rule — a law
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. rule — to rule out
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rule — government
  21. pit — in a race
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. pit — a hole
  24. toast — bread

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