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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. root — of a word
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. stock — shares
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. wax — to grow
  9. root — the cause
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. stock — goods
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rash — a series
  14. lie — to recline
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. rash — hasty
  18. sharp — clever
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. sharp — with an edge

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