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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. season — in sport
  3. root — of a word
  4. root — of a plant
  5. club — for dancing
  6. root — the cause
  7. stem — to come from
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. staff — employees
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. pass — a permit
  20. season — of the year
  21. staff — employees
  22. staff — a stick
  23. club — for golf
  24. club — a group

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