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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. root — of a word
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. current — electric
  6. face — to confront
  7. bulb — for light
  8. current — of water
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pass — a permit
  12. deal — to handle
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. root — the cause
  15. current — happening now
  16. face — part of the head
  17. face — to point toward
  18. prune — to trim
  19. root — of a plant
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. prune — to trim
  23. lie — to recline
  24. deal — a big deal

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