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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 120 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.

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: rush · season · lie · chip · root · object · bay · mate

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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. season — to add flavour
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. chip — for betting
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. object — an aim
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. season — of the year
  10. lie — to recline
  11. root — the cause
  12. object — to protest
  13. season — in sport
  14. root — of a word
  15. chip — to eat
  16. mate — a partner
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. object — a thing
  20. mate — a friend
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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