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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. root — of a word
  3. spring — the season
  4. mark — a trace
  5. cue — a hint
  6. suit — clothes
  7. pop — to visit
  8. perch — the fish
  9. pop — soda
  10. spring — of water
  11. cue — a signal
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. suit — in cards
  14. spring — a coil
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. mark — a grade
  17. root — the cause
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. cue — for pool
  20. charge — a price
  21. root — of a plant
  22. charge — electricity
  23. suit — to fit
  24. charge — in control

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