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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. root — of a plant
  3. bear — the animal
  4. band — a ring
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. bear — the animal
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. root — of a word
  10. root — the cause
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. band — a music group
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. pass — a permit
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. wax — to grow
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. mate — a partner
  24. mate — a friend

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