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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. pop — soda
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bound — certain
  7. lean — thin
  8. bound — obliged
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. pop — to visit
  11. root — of a plant
  12. root — of a word
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. root — the cause
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. pop — music
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bound — tied together
  21. lean — to bend
  22. key — the most important part
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. key — in music

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