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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 120 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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. bound — obliged
  3. root — of a word
  4. plane — a tool
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. bound — certain
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. root — of a plant
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. staff — a stick
  15. rush — hurry
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. bound — tied together
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — employees
  22. hand — in cards
  23. hand — help
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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