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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. file — a tool
  3. file — a document
  4. bulb — for light
  5. object — a thing
  6. root — the cause
  7. root — of a plant
  8. cue — for pool
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bound — tied together
  11. cue — a signal
  12. root — of a word
  13. bound — obliged
  14. object — an aim
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. lean — thin
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bound — certain
  20. cue — a hint
  21. lie — to recline
  22. object — to protest
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. file — a line of people

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