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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 120 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 ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. root — the cause
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. root — of a plant
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. scale — in music
  8. hand — in cards
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. plane — a tool
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. scale — size or range
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. hand — help
  24. temple — a place of worship

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