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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 King held a masked ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. ball — a dance
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. board — a committee
  7. root — the cause
  8. face — to confront
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. root — of a plant
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. face — part of the head
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. staff — employees
  16. staff — employees
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. board — to get on
  19. deal — to handle
  20. face — to point toward
  21. staff — a stick
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. ball — a great time
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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