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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
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: calf · net · chip · lie · toast · mug · root · court

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. toast — bread
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. chip — for betting
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. court — of law
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. court — of a king
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. lie — to recline
  12. net — in sport
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. net — for catching
  15. root — of a word
  16. root — of a plant
  17. chip — to eat
  18. court — for sport
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. mug — a cup
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. net — after costs
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mug — a face

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