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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. root — of a plant
  3. mate — a partner
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. root — of a word
  6. bore — to drill
  7. stock — shares
  8. mate — to breed
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. spell — magic
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. mate — a friend
  13. board — to get on
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. stock — goods
  16. stand — to bear
  17. root — the cause
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. bore — to tire
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. spell — letters
  23. board — a committee
  24. bore — gave birth

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