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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. roll — a cake
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. lie — to recline
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. charge — in control
  8. roll — a list
  9. mine — for digging
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. root — of a word
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. charge — electricity
  16. root — the cause
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. pound — a weight
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. root — of a plant
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. charge — a price

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