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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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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: arm · face · root · cue · snap · mark · mate · date

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. root — of a plant
  3. root — the cause
  4. mate — a friend
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. cue — for pool
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. cue — a hint
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. mark — a trace
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. date — the fruit
  13. face — to confront
  14. cue — a signal
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. snap — to click
  17. mate — to breed
  18. root — of a word
  19. mate — a partner
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. mark — a grade
  23. face — to point toward
  24. face — part of the head

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