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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. root — of a plant
  3. current — happening now
  4. cue — a signal
  5. root — the cause
  6. track — a path
  7. season — in sport
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. track — a song
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. current — of water
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. rash — hasty
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. cue — for pool
  18. root — of a word
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. season — of the year
  21. current — electric
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. cue — a hint
  24. track — to keep track

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