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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. track — a path
  3. deal — to handle
  4. field — for sport
  5. can — to be able to
  6. track — a song
  7. can — a tin
  8. season — of the year
  9. field — a subject
  10. toast — bread
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. season — in sport
  14. can — a tin
  15. stand — to bear
  16. field — farmland
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. root — of a word
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. track — to keep track
  22. root — of a plant
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. stand — for spectators

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