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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. root — the cause
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. vault — a safe
  7. roll — a list
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. roll — a cake
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. toast — bread
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. root — of a plant
  18. pop — to visit
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. pop — soda
  23. root — of a word
  24. wax — to grow

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