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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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. rock — a stone
  4. root — of a plant
  5. present — the time now
  6. stem — to come from
  7. bound — tied together
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. rest — what's left
  10. root — the cause
  11. key — for a lock
  12. key — in music
  13. rest — a break
  14. rock — music
  15. bound — obliged
  16. rest — what's left
  17. board — a committee
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. key — the most important part
  20. present — a gift
  21. present — there
  22. bound — certain
  23. board — to get on
  24. rock — to move gently

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