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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. mate — a friend
  3. bore — to drill
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. mate — a partner
  6. ground — crushed
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. mate — to breed
  9. bass — the fish
  10. root — the cause
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. bore — to tire
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. ground — the earth
  15. root — of a word
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. ground — a position
  18. bass — low music
  19. can — a tin
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. deal — to handle
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — to be able to
  24. trunk — of a car

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