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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. season — in sport
  3. deal — to handle
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. staff — employees
  8. root — of a plant
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. bear — the animal
  12. face — to point toward
  13. root — of a word
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. face — part of the head
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. season — of the year
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. face — to confront
  21. staff — employees
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. root — the cause
  24. staff — a stick

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