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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: face · spring · ball · chip · ruler · root · foot · fine

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. face — to confront
  5. root — of a plant
  6. chip — to eat
  7. root — of a word
  8. face — to point toward
  9. root — the cause
  10. spring — the season
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. spring — of water
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. fine — all right
  15. foot — a measure
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. fine — high quality
  18. spring — a coil
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ball — a great time
  21. face — part of the head
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. ball — a dance
  24. chip — for betting

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