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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 polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. clip — a video
  3. staff — employees
  4. charge — in control
  5. cap — a hat
  6. charge — electricity
  7. scale — in music
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. root — of a plant
  10. scale — size or range
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. root — of a word
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. staff — a stick
  15. firm — steady
  16. cap — a lid
  17. root — the cause
  18. staff — employees
  19. clip — for paper
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. clip — to cut
  22. firm — decided
  23. charge — a price
  24. firm — a company

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