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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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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: fine · season · rule · game · toast · fork · root · suit

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. suit — to fit
  3. season — in sport
  4. rule — a law
  5. suit — clothes
  6. fine — high quality
  7. root — the cause
  8. game — wild animals
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. suit — in cards
  11. season — of the year
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. game — a match
  16. root — of a word
  17. fork — in a road
  18. fine — all right
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. rule — government
  22. toast — bread
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. fork — to eat with

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