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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. rest — a break
  3. tube — a container
  4. pop — soda
  5. rest — what's left
  6. track — to keep track
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pitch — completely
  9. root — of a plant
  10. tube — the underground
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. rest — what's left
  13. suit — in cards
  14. bank — for money
  15. root — of a word
  16. bank — of a river
  17. track — a path
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. suit — to fit
  20. suit — clothes
  21. bank — for money
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. root — the cause
  24. track — a song

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