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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 120 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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. root — of a plant
  4. track — to keep track
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. root — of a word
  7. track — a song
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. charge — electricity
  10. charge — a price
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. drill — a practice
  13. charge — in control
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. track — a path
  16. drill — army training
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bass — low music
  20. root — the cause
  21. plane — a tool
  22. stand — to bear
  23. bass — the fish
  24. arm — part of the body

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