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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 ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. roll — a list
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. root — the cause
  7. stock — shares
  8. mate — a partner
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. roll — a cake
  12. spell — letters
  13. chip — to eat
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. root — of a word
  16. mate — to breed
  17. stock — goods
  18. mate — a friend
  19. scale — in music
  20. lie — to recline
  21. spell — magic
  22. chip — for betting
  23. spell — a short time
  24. scale — size or range

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