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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. degree — temperature
  3. rest — what's left
  4. degree — an amount
  5. mug — to rob
  6. press — newspapers
  7. rest — what's left
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. shower — to wash
  10. shower — rain
  11. press — a publisher
  12. root — of a word
  13. root — of a plant
  14. suit — clothes
  15. press — to push
  16. degree — from a university
  17. rest — a break
  18. root — the cause
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. suit — to fit
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. suit — in cards
  23. mug — a cup
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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