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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.

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: track · nail · craft · root · lie · bay · club · press

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. root — of a plant
  3. track — a song
  4. club — for golf
  5. root — the cause
  6. press — to push
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. track — a path
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. root — of a word
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. track — to keep track
  17. press — a publisher
  18. press — newspapers
  19. craft — a skill
  20. club — a group
  21. craft — boats
  22. club — for dancing
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. lie — to recline

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