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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. club — for golf
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. sharp — clever
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. field — a subject
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. field — for sport
  13. root — of a word
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. club — for dancing
  16. root — of a plant
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. wax — to grow
  19. field — farmland
  20. ball — a great time
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. ball — a dance
  24. club — a group

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