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

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. track — to keep track
  4. root — the cause
  5. roll — a cake
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lie — to recline
  8. track — a song
  9. root — of a plant
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. roll — a list
  12. drill — army training
  13. pop — soda
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. track — a path
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. drill — the tool
  19. pop — to visit
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. root — of a word
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pop — music
  24. lie — an untruth

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