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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. root — the cause
  4. bank — for money
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. spring — the season
  7. lie — to recline
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bank — for money
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bank — of a river
  12. hand — in cards
  13. root — of a word
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. root — of a plant
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. spring — a coil
  23. spring — of water
  24. hand — help

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