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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 120 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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. root — of a plant
  3. squash — the sport
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pass — a permit
  7. cap — of ice
  8. pop — soda
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. season — in sport
  12. root — of a word
  13. season — of the year
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. squash — to crush
  17. cap — a lid
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. root — the cause
  22. pop — music
  23. cap — a hat
  24. pop — to visit

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