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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. saw — the tool
  3. date — the fruit
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. spring — the season
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. root — of a word
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. root — the cause
  11. tube — a container
  12. tube — the underground
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. lie — to recline
  15. spring — of water
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. root — of a plant
  18. key — the most important part
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. saw — the tool
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. key — for a lock
  24. spring — a coil

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