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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. bound — obliged
  10. shower — rain
  11. bound — tied together
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — hasty
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. lie — to recline
  20. shower — to wash
  21. root — the cause
  22. bound — certain
  23. root — of a word
  24. lash — an eyelash

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