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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 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. cue — for pool
  3. row — to paddle
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. bulb — for light
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bulb — for light
  10. cue — a signal
  11. bear — the animal
  12. root — of a plant
  13. fall — the season
  14. row — a line
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. cue — a hint
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. fall — to drop
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bear — the animal
  23. root — the cause
  24. fall — to drop

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