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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 a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. content — the amount
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. branch — a division
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. pitch — completely
  13. root — the cause
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. foot — a measure
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. root — of a word
  21. content — happy
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. pitch — a sports field

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