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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 116 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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. root — of a plant
  3. ball — a great time
  4. object — to protest
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. hand — help
  7. object — an aim
  8. cue — for pool
  9. cue — a hint
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. march — music
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. object — a thing
  16. march — the month
  17. hand — in cards
  18. root — the cause
  19. root — of a word
  20. cue — a signal
  21. march — the month
  22. ball — a dance
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. hand — part of the body

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