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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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. staff — employees
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. root — of a plant
  6. mark — a grade
  7. root — of a word
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. tube — the underground
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. current — of water
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. current — happening now
  14. root — the cause
  15. mark — a trace
  16. current — electric
  17. snap — to click
  18. staff — employees
  19. roll — a cake
  20. staff — a stick
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. tube — a container
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. nail — on a finger

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