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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. root — of a plant
  3. mug — a cup
  4. root — the cause
  5. face — part of the head
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. net — in sport
  8. face — to point toward
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. mug — to rob
  11. can — a tin
  12. stock — shares
  13. stock — goods
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. mug — a face
  17. can — a tin
  18. hand — help
  19. net — for catching
  20. net — after costs
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. root — of a word
  23. face — to confront
  24. can — to be able to

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