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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 a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. root — the cause
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. mate — to breed
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. root — of a word
  8. bear — the animal
  9. mate — a partner
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. bass — the fish
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. foot — a measure
  19. mate — a friend
  20. lie — to recline
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bark — to shout
  24. bass — low 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