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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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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: club · root · date · lie · mouse · hide · dip · rule

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. rule — a law
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. root — of a word
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. root — the cause
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. root — of a plant
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. club — for dancing
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. date — the fruit
  13. club — a group
  14. dip — to sink
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. lie — to recline
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. rule — government
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. club — for golf

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