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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. root — of a plant
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. root — the cause
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. spring — of water
  9. ground — a position
  10. bark — to shout
  11. bore — to drill
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. spring — a coil
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — to be able to
  16. game — wild animals
  17. root — of a word
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. can — a tin
  20. ground — crushed
  21. game — a match
  22. spring — the season
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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