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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.

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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. root — the cause
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. root — of a word
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. mark — a grade
  15. sharp — clever
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. pass — a permit
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. bulb — for light
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. coach — a trainer

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