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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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Word bank
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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. root — the cause
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. fine — high quality
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. net — for catching
  9. pitch — completely
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. root — of a word
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. fine — all right
  14. net — after costs
  15. net — in sport
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. rush — hurry
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. root — of a plant
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. temple — side of the head

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