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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 116 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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. rash — a series
  3. root — of a plant
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. plane — a tool
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. mark — a trace
  8. net — in sport
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. spell — letters
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. net — for catching
  14. mark — a grade
  15. spell — a short time
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. snap — to click
  18. net — after costs
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. spell — magic
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. root — the cause
  23. rash — hasty
  24. plane — an aircraft

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