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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. root — of a plant
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. root — of a word
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. net — after costs
  14. net — in sport
  15. scale — size or range
  16. rush — hurry
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. scale — in music
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. net — for catching
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. wave — with your hand

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