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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. root — of a plant
  3. club — for golf
  4. root — the cause
  5. board — to get on
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. club — for dancing
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. root — of a word
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. board — a committee
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. tube — a container
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. club — a group
  24. tube — the underground

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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