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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: root · track · rule · ball · rock · stick · bass · wake

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. root — of a plant
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. root — of a word
  6. rule — government
  7. rock — music
  8. ball — a dance
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bass — the fish
  11. wake — a trail
  12. root — the cause
  13. ball — a great time
  14. track — a song
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. rock — a stone
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. bass — low music
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. track — to keep track
  22. track — a path
  23. rule — a law
  24. rule — to rule out

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