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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. root — of a word
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. root — the cause
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. rash — a series
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bound — tied together
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. stock — shares
  13. bass — the fish
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. scale — in music
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. bound — certain
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bass — low music
  20. root — of a plant
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. bound — obliged
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. stock — goods

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