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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 116 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 ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. chip — for betting
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. track — a path
  5. face — part of the head
  6. chip — to eat
  7. track — to keep track
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. pound — a weight
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. root — the cause
  12. track — a song
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. face — to point toward
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. face — to confront
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. wax — to grow
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. root — of a plant

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