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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. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. root — of a plant
  3. root — the cause
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. foot — a measure
  9. staff — employees
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. root — of a word
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. staff — employees
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. staff — a stick
  21. mine — for digging
  22. rush — hurry
  23. perch — the fish
  24. perch — for a bird

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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