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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 sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. hand — in cards
  4. root — the cause
  5. suit — clothes
  6. can — a tin
  7. hand — help
  8. root — of a word
  9. deal — to handle
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. suit — to fit
  12. root — of a plant
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bass — low music
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bass — the fish
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. bark — of a tree

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