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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 120 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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. root — of a plant
  3. bulb — for light
  4. stand — to bear
  5. bear — the animal
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. root — of a word
  9. pass — a permit
  10. board — to get on
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. bear — the animal
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. board — a committee
  16. bulb — for light
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. root — the cause
  19. wake — a trail
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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