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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. rock — a stone
  4. net — for catching
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. stock — goods
  7. root — the cause
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. root — of a plant
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. net — after costs
  14. branch — a division
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. lie — to recline
  18. net — in sport
  19. stock — shares
  20. charge — electricity
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. charge — a price
  23. charge — in control
  24. rock — music

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