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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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. root — of a plant
  3. pop — soda
  4. date — the fruit
  5. root — of a word
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. roll — a list
  10. root — the cause
  11. bass — low music
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. charge — in control
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. roll — a cake
  18. branch — a division
  19. charge — a price
  20. pop — to visit
  21. bass — the fish
  22. pop — music
  23. charge — electricity
  24. roll — on a roll

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