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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. root — the cause
  3. object — to protest
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. present — a gift
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. pop — to visit
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bass — low music
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. lie — to recline
  13. bass — the fish
  14. pop — soda
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. root — of a plant
  17. game — a match
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. root — of a word
  20. object — a thing
  21. present — there
  22. object — an aim
  23. pop — music
  24. game — wild animals

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