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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. root — of a plant
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bat — the animal
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. land — to come down
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. press — to push
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. tube — the underground
  13. tube — a container
  14. root — the cause
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. land — ground
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. bat — for baseball
  21. root — of a word
  22. land — a country
  23. press — a publisher
  24. bat — in an idiom

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