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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. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. root — of a word
  3. mug — a face
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. deal — to handle
  8. pop — music
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. mug — to rob
  11. root — the cause
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. sharp — clever
  15. pop — to visit
  16. root — of a plant
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. pop — soda
  19. tube — a container
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. mug — a cup
  23. tube — the underground
  24. stem — to come from

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