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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. saw — the tool
  3. wax — to grow
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. rush — hurry
  12. staff — a stick
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. staff — employees
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. saw — the tool
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. squash — to crush
  19. root — the cause
  20. rock — a stone
  21. squash — the sport
  22. staff — employees
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. root — of a word

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