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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. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rush — hurry
  4. root — the cause
  5. club — for dancing
  6. root — of a plant
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mug — a cup
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. club — for golf
  16. root — of a word
  17. club — a group
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. capital — a city
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. mug — a face
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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