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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. roll — a list
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. field — a subject
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. bear — the animal
  10. root — of a plant
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. root — of a word
  14. sharp — clever
  15. roll — a cake
  16. field — for sport
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bound — certain
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. vault — a safe
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. bound — tied together
  23. field — farmland
  24. bear — the animal

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