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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 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. suit — in cards
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. root — of a plant
  5. net — in sport
  6. mate — to breed
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. net — for catching
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. lie — to recline
  13. suit — to fit
  14. saw — the tool
  15. suit — clothes
  16. mate — a partner
  17. net — after costs
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. root — the cause
  20. saw — the tool
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mate — a friend
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. arm — part of the body

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