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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 116 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 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. fall — the season
  3. lie — to recline
  4. root — the cause
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. bulb — for light
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. shower — rain
  13. root — of a plant
  14. ground — crushed
  15. shower — to wash
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. ground — a position
  19. stand — to bear
  20. ground — the earth
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. fall — to drop
  24. fall — to drop

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