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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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. lie — to recline
  9. root — of a plant
  10. mark — a grade
  11. rock — a stone
  12. current — electric
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. current — happening now
  16. root — of a word
  17. rush — hurry
  18. mark — a trace
  19. root — the cause
  20. current — of water
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. rock — music
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. squash — the sport

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