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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. track — a song
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. track — a path
  5. root — the cause
  6. pitch — completely
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. sharp — clever
  9. press — to push
  10. press — a publisher
  11. press — newspapers
  12. root — of a word
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. track — to keep track
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. wax — to grow
  20. pass — a permit
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. wake — a trail
  24. sharp — exactly

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