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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
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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 · board · calf · track · field · pit · cap · season

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. track — a song
  3. root — the cause
  4. cap — a lid
  5. cap — a hat
  6. season — of the year
  7. root — of a plant
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. field — farmland
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. pit — a hole
  14. cap — of ice
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. board — a committee
  17. field — a subject
  18. board — to get on
  19. season — in sport
  20. track — to keep track
  21. field — for sport
  22. root — of a word
  23. track — a path
  24. pit — in a race

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