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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 need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. mate — a friend
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. mate — a partner
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. game — wild animals
  10. toast — bread
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. root — of a plant
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. mug — a face
  15. wax — to grow
  16. mark — a grade
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. game — a match
  21. mug — to rob
  22. root — of a word
  23. mate — to breed
  24. mark — a trace

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