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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. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. field — a subject
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. charge — a price
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. charge — in control
  7. charge — electricity
  8. bound — tied together
  9. field — for sport
  10. lie — to recline
  11. bound — certain
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. snap — to click
  16. root — of a plant
  17. rock — music
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. field — farmland
  22. bound — obliged
  23. root — the cause
  24. rock — a stone

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