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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 120 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's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  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. band — a music group
  2. root — of a plant
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. shower — rain
  5. can — a tin
  6. cue — a hint
  7. can — to be able to
  8. root — of a word
  9. current — of water
  10. can — a tin
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. root — the cause
  13. pitch — completely
  14. band — a ring
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. current — electric
  17. cue — for pool
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. cue — a signal
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. shower — to wash
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. current — happening now
  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