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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.

Make a worksheet

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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. wound — an injury
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. season — in sport
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. root — the cause
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. can — a tin
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. season — of the year
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. can — a tin
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. wound — an injury
  22. can — to be able to
  23. root — of a word
  24. patient — calm and waiting

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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