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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 ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. squash — the sport
  3. bass — the fish
  4. chip — for betting
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. chip — to eat
  9. bass — low music
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. stand — to bear
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. root — of a plant
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. root — the cause
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. squash — to crush
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bass — the instrument

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