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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 116 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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. root — the cause
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. last — final
  6. rash — a series
  7. last — finally
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. stand — to bear
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. rash — hasty
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. kick — in football
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. root — of a word
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. last — to go on
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. kick — with a leg

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