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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. content — the amount
  3. mug — a face
  4. root — the cause
  5. rest — a break
  6. can — a tin
  7. mug — to rob
  8. firm — a company
  9. firm — decided
  10. root — of a word
  11. hand — help
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. root — of a plant
  14. prune — to trim
  15. content — happy
  16. rest — what's left
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. hand — in cards
  21. prune — to trim
  22. rest — what's left
  23. firm — steady
  24. hand — part of the body

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