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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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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: swing · drill · lash · root · scale · face · mark · stand

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. swing — to play on
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. stand — to bear
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. root — the cause
  10. root — of a plant
  11. swing — music
  12. drill — army training
  13. swing — in golf
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. drill — a practice
  16. scale — size or range
  17. mark — a trace
  18. face — part of the head
  19. scale — in music
  20. face — to point toward
  21. drill — the tool
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. face — to confront
  24. mark — a grade

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