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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. root — the cause
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. key — in music
  5. firm — a company
  6. pop — soda
  7. stem — to come from
  8. root — of a plant
  9. prune — to trim
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. pop — music
  12. firm — steady
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pop — to visit
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. root — of a word
  17. key — the most important part
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. key — for a lock
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. firm — decided

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