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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. root — of a plant
  3. object — to protest
  4. mug — to rob
  5. plane — a tool
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bulb — for light
  8. root — the cause
  9. mug — a cup
  10. net — after costs
  11. squash — the sport
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. mug — a face
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. bulb — for light
  17. net — in sport
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. object — an aim
  20. squash — to crush
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. root — of a word
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. net — for catching

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