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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 need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. spell — magic
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. chip — to eat
  9. bound — obliged
  10. current — electric
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. spell — a short time
  14. current — of water
  15. bound — tied together
  16. root — of a word
  17. chip — for betting
  18. root — of a plant
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. spell — letters
  21. current — happening now
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. bound — certain
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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