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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. board — to get on
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. spell — a short time
  5. spell — letters
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. mug — a cup
  9. spell — magic
  10. deal — to handle
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. hand — in cards
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. board — a committee
  17. root — of a word
  18. hand — help
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. ball — a dance
  21. root — the cause
  22. mug — to rob
  23. ball — a great time
  24. mug — a face

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