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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.

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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: rock · stick · present · racket · saw · march · root · deal

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. present — the time now
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. deal — to handle
  5. present — there
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. present — a gift
  8. rock — a stone
  9. saw — the tool
  10. root — of a word
  11. saw — the tool
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. march — the month
  15. march — music
  16. root — the cause
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. root — of a plant
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. march — the month
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. rock — music
  24. deal — a big deal

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