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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: kick · face · fine · current · mouse · prune · scale · root

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. root — of a plant
  3. face — to point toward
  4. current — electric
  5. kick — in football
  6. root — of a word
  7. face — part of the head
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. current — happening now
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. fine — all right
  14. prune — to trim
  15. scale — size or range
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. root — the cause
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. face — to confront
  22. scale — in music
  23. prune — to trim
  24. kick — with a leg

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