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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. root — of a word
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. saw — the tool
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. root — the cause
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bulb — for light
  12. vault — a safe
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. bulb — for light
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. can — a tin
  17. root — of a plant
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. can — a tin
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bowl — a dish

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