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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. suit — to fit
  5. rock — music
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. suit — in cards
  8. date — the fruit
  9. track — a song
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. track — to keep track
  12. root — of a word
  13. rock — a stone
  14. root — of a plant
  15. root — the cause
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. saw — the tool
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. track — a path
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. saw — the tool

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