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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. press — newspapers
  3. root — the cause
  4. cap — a hat
  5. rash — a series
  6. mark — a grade
  7. object — a thing
  8. spell — letters
  9. cap — of ice
  10. spell — magic
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. shower — rain
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. object — to protest
  15. press — to push
  16. rash — hasty
  17. spell — a short time
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. cap — a lid
  20. root — of a word
  21. mark — a trace
  22. root — of a plant
  23. shower — to wash
  24. press — a publisher

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