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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. root — the cause
  3. row — to paddle
  4. land — to come down
  5. row — a line
  6. land — a country
  7. toast — bread
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mug — a cup
  12. rock — a stone
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. present — a gift
  16. root — of a plant
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. pitch — completely
  19. present — the time now
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. root — of a word
  22. present — there
  23. mug — a face
  24. land — ground

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