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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. root — the cause
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. court — of law
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. bank — for money
  7. court — of a king
  8. pitch — completely
  9. bank — for money
  10. court — for sport
  11. root — of a plant
  12. bank — of a river
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. root — of a word
  16. suit — clothes
  17. snap — to click
  18. ball — a dance
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. suit — to fit
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. tube — the underground
  23. ball — a great time
  24. tube — a container

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