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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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468
Word bank
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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. root — of a plant
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. root — the cause
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. scale — size or range
  12. scale — in music
  13. net — in sport
  14. net — for catching
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. fine — all right
  17. fine — high quality
  18. net — after costs
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. sharp — clever
  24. root — of a word

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