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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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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. content — happy
  4. fork — in a road
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. file — a document
  8. pass — a permit
  9. root — the cause
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. root — of a plant
  12. perch — the fish
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. pitch — completely
  15. file — a tool
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. file — a line of people
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. content — the amount
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. rock — music
  23. rock — a stone
  24. fork — a garden tool

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