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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. lean — to bend
  3. shower — rain
  4. root — of a plant
  5. mug — to rob
  6. shower — to wash
  7. lean — thin
  8. root — the cause
  9. bound — tied together
  10. bass — the fish
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bass — low music
  14. staff — a stick
  15. bound — obliged
  16. mug — a cup
  17. staff — employees
  18. root — of a word
  19. mug — a face
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. staff — employees
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. bound — certain

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