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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 need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. wax — to grow
  4. track — a song
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. hand — in cards
  7. hand — help
  8. track — a path
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. club — for golf
  11. root — of a word
  12. bulb — for light
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. object — an aim
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. object — to protest
  19. root — of a plant
  20. club — a group
  21. track — to keep track
  22. club — for dancing
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. object — a thing

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