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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. race — the arms race
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. race — humankind
  5. race — a contest
  6. root — of a word
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. prune — to trim
  9. root — of a plant
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. root — the cause
  13. roll — a list
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. roll — a cake
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. toast — bread
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. prune — to trim
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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