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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
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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: mark · bowl · face · jam · field · root · press · bat

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. root — of a plant
  3. mark — a trace
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. face — to point toward
  6. field — farmland
  7. bat — for baseball
  8. face — to confront
  9. face — part of the head
  10. root — of a word
  11. press — newspapers
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. press — a publisher
  14. field — for sport
  15. field — a subject
  16. mark — a grade
  17. bat — the animal
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. press — to push
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. bat — in an idiom
  24. bowl — a dish

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