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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 116 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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. fine — all right
  3. rest — what's left
  4. staff — employees
  5. root — of a plant
  6. shower — rain
  7. mark — a trace
  8. rest — a break
  9. staff — a stick
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. squash — to crush
  12. staff — employees
  13. game — wild animals
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. fine — high quality
  16. mark — a grade
  17. squash — the sport
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. shower — to wash
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. game — a match
  23. root — of a word
  24. rest — what's left

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